David Moyes has claimed that West Ham United "had too many attacking players on the pitch" by the end of Sunday's 4-1 defeat at Arsenal.
The Hammers were level in the final 10 minutes of the Premier League encounter at the Emirates Stadium, with Nacho Monreal's opener cancelled out by Marko Arnautovic's strike.
However, the Gunners scored another three goals in just seven minutes to condemn West Ham to a seventh game under Moyes in which they have shipped three or more goals.
The Scot claimed that, although Arsene Wenger's exit announcement may have played a part in Arsenal's improved performance, the buck stopped firmly with his team.
"[Wenger's announcement] did make it more difficult but I didn't think it played that way," Moyes told BBC Sport. "We did a really good job, contained them for long periods.
"We just didn't start the second half as well and they got a foothold in the game. We came back into it but in the end we probably had too many attacking players on the pitch and ruined our balance of making sure we did the defensive job well.
"Great credit to lads for how well they done and stuck at it. Unfortunately a young player [Declan Rice] makes a mistake – but that's how you learn, make mistakes and get on with it – and hopefully come back better. Joe Hart made two very good saves. We need them to make saves."
The result means that West Ham drop to 15th place in the table, six points from the dropzone.
Giuseppe Labellarte
