Wenger wants Gunners response

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has urged his squad to put in a solid performance against Crystal Palace at the weekend following their opening-day defeat to West Ham.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has urged his squad to put in a solid performance against Crystal Palace at the weekend following their opening-day defeat to West Ham.

Cheikhou Kouyate and Mauro Zarate both got on the scoresheet as the Hammers toppled the Gunners 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in a debut to forget for new Gunners signing Petr Cech.

The result has seen the Arsenal squad's resolve once again questioned by the English media, but Wenger believes more should be taken from how they respond to the loss when they travel to Selhurst Park on Sunday.

"Every defeat makes you a bit smaller, but it is our job to take it in perspective with 37 games to go," Wenger is quoted as saying by BT Sport.

"We have the history behind us from the second half of the campaign last year which shows we have the quality to always respond and to be consistent, so let's focus on our quality.

"Defeat is part of the season and of course that was not planned, but we know it is how we respond to these kind of things that will make our season."