West Ham’s defense is porous. Julen Lopetegui has to find solutions quickly

It can be of little consolation to the fans in the Bobby Moore Lower stands that the only fight they saw against Arsenal took place close to home.

When a small group of away fans failed to hide their loyalty while celebrating Kai Havertz’s goal, a scuffle broke out with angry home fans and they were later escorted from the London Stadium by stewards. And on the pitch? It was another dismal performance; poor defense from a porous defense and a 2-5 defeat that increased the pressure on head coach Julen Lopetegui.

West Ham conceded four goals in 36 minutes, with Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Havertz getting on the scoresheet. It is the sixth time this season that Lopetegui’s side have conceded three or more goals. After the third goal, many fans streamed into the hall. Those who came back were encouraged by a small revival as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri scored within two minutes, but when Bukayo Saka converted his penalty right on half-time the damage was done.

This is West Ham, a team that capitulates like no other. They conceded three goals against Chelsea in September, suffered a crushing 5-1 defeat against Liverpool in the League Cup, scored four goals against Tottenham Hotspur and three against Nottingham Forest. This season, West Ham only kept three clean sheets in 13 league games.

The feel-good factor after the win over Newcastle United on November 25 lasted as long as Lopetegui’s touchline ban. Whenever you suspect that this team is turning things around, they are expecting a loss. There is no consistency, no signs of a sustained upward trend and no signs that the team will quell the boos for home games.

After the game, Lopetegui said West Ham had prepared for Arsenal’s set pieces. But the unfortunate defense of Gabriel’s opening goal suggested otherwise. It was a move straight from the training ground.

Odegaard, Gabriel and Jurrien Timber are unmarked, while Havertz, William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori have to fend off Emerson, Jean-Clair Todibo and Wan-Bissaka…

Michail Antonio is tasked with covering Gabriel, but Calafiori shields the defender from the Jamaica international. Antonio is then unable to track Gabriel’s run and the Brazilian heads in Saka’s pinpoint cross. Pablo Sanz, the deputy head coach, is the man tasked with overseeing West Ham’s set pieces. But he was dejected and shrugged his shoulders as he watched the team fail to execute the game plan.

Lopetegui received his third yellow card of the season in the 2-0 win at St James’ Park and the Spaniard served his ban on the touchline by sitting in the management box and communicating via an earpiece with his team in the touchline backroom . Having a higher starting position, he believed Timber was hindering Lucas Paqueta in the build-up to the opening goal.

“The first one was a set piece that we had prepared, but in my opinion it is a clear foul,” said Lopetegui. “If it’s not a foul, we have to review the rules. But we definitely have to do better with the second and third goals.

“There is a limit in all offensive blocks. All coaches prepare standard situations with blocks. In my opinion he (Paqueta) had the position (and Timber was pushing him) with no intention of playing the ball. We have a lot of discussions with the referees about such actions in (meetings). Sometimes we get a little lost interpreting the rules.”

By half-time, Saka and Odegaard had combined for 60 touches of the ball and the duo took advantage of West Ham’s hesitant defence. But it was a lack of concentration that led to Trossard’s goal.

If Saka is in possession of the ball here in the build-up play, West Ham have a good defensive line…

But Odegaard recognizes Saka’s run and passes in a pass…

Todibo and Maximilian Kilman react too late, while Wan-Bissaka loses sight of Trossard and the Belgian converts from close range.

Paqueta was back to his best against Newcastle but has shown only fleeting performances since August. The Brazilian tends to switch off and has a habit of giving away possession.

With West Ham already 2-0 down, he conceded a penalty for a foul on Saka, which Odegaard converted.

Paqueta was also to blame for the fourth goal when he gave the ball away in midfield.

Jorginho intercepts his pass to Carlos Soler…

And Trossard quickly plays a long ball to Havertz, leaving Kilman as the last man…

The defender, a £40 million ($51.2 million) summer signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers, missed the ball and Havertz converted.

Lukasz Fabianski has been solid since replacing Alphonse Areola in goal, but a misjudgment led to him fouling Gabriel from an Arsenal corner, prompting referee Anthony Taylor to award another penalty before half-time, which Saka scored.

West Ham restricted Arsenal to one shot on goal in the second half, but by the time Danny Ings’ deflected shot from close range went wide, many fans had already left. He refrained from hitting the ground in frustration, a feeling shared by those who remained.

“The fifth goal before half-time killed the game,” complained Lopetegui. “We scored two goals and ended the half with positive energy. It wasn’t a punishment. Compare the contact on the first goal with Lucas Paqueta and then it happened with Lukasz (Fabianski) and Gabriel. We were unlucky with the decision, but that is no excuse because we can and must do better.”

A trip to struggling Leicester City on Tuesday is a chance for redemption. There have been a number of impassioned pleas from the head coach this season; Some have achieved the desired effect, others have met with deaf eyes. Whatever happens against a Leicester side led by Ruud van Nistelrooy for the first time could have an impact on Lopetegui’s future.

(Top photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)