Arsene Wenger: Arsenal boss wants response after defeat

Arsenal will recover from the "nerves" they suffered in their opening-day Premier League defeat by West Ham, their manager Arsene Wenger says.

The Gunners lost 2-0 at home on Sunday, despite having 62% of possession and 22 shots.

"We will respond to that accident," Wenger said.

"The players were maybe too nervous and put too much pressure on themselves. Today we have been hurt mentally and it is a good opportunity to respond."

He added: "We were not convincing offensively or defensively. I knew it could be a tricky game. If you can't win the game, make sure you don't lose it."

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Wenger, whose side finished third last season and won the FA Cup, has been under pressure to add players to his squad, with keeper Petr Cech - a £10m signing from Chelsea - the only summer arrival at the Emirates.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is a reported target for Arsenal, but Wenger said new additions would not have aided a performance where his side managed just six shots on target.

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"I would like to think that we are responsible for buying the players, not the media," the Frenchman said.

"When you're a pro footballer, you have to face your responsibilities and not always look at something else.

"Today we have to look at ourselves and think we were not good enough and not to think that these kinds of things [signings] are solutions for us."

/By BBC/