West Ham United’s comprehensive defeat at the Emirates on Saturday against an Arsenal side brimming with confidence was not exactly a huge surprise.

After all, the Irons have been beaten by the Gunners in ten consecutive games now – but there was still much to irk Sam Allardyce, who sent his assistant Neil McDonald out to speak to the press after the match while conducting an inquest with his players.

Sam was visibly angry following the 3-0 defeat, although you sense this is more about frustration against things he can do nothing about.

Allardyce is not a man who elicits much sympathy, even from those who are generally supportive of him, but sometimes the Gods of football can be particularly cruel.

Most Premier League teams would have struggled to cope with Arsenal in Saturday’s form but the Hammers were also shorn of three regular defenders and had a weakened forward line.

Ultimately, all the rest and relaxation in Dubai amounts to nothing when a Champions League side like Arsenal click into gear.

I remember when I was a boy, laughing with friends at the Scottish First Division and the fact that only either Celtic or Rangers ever won the league; wondering how boring it must be seeing the same sides winning every week.

The fact is remains, though, the Premier League is now the same and anyone who expects West Ham to compete with any of the top six when decimated by injuries is living in cloud cuckoo land.

Of course, critics of Allardyce will point to the paucity of the squad strength when there are major injury problems but the fact is the Hammers simply are not a big enough club to have a bench full of top-quality cover.

Naturally though, for some, anything Big Sam does is damned.

And following news that Enner Valencia was out of the team after lacerating his toe on a broken cup in a freak kitchen accident, it was no surprise to find some fans blaming Allardyce for not insisting all players are issued with plastic cups and utensils when they sign on the dotted line.

Personally I think expecting any Premier League footballer to have to deal with the rigours of the kitchen is asking too much.

Why on earth Karren Brady has not sanctioned the use of a Claret and Blue Teasmade and plastic beaker is completely beyond me.

While she’s at it, might I suggest investing in a rubber egg whisk? When the inevitable goalkeeper/omelette mishap then occurs, Sam can point to his excellent man-management skills, claim an innate tactical knowledge and save himself all types of grief from supporters.

However training goes this week, expect the coaching staff to be delivering some serious advice on the dangers of the cutlery drawer.

Looking forward, the Hammers are now entering a phase of eminently winnable games against sides they can expect to compete with, even with an injury list and a complete lack of form.

And this is where pressure mounts for Allardyce. Failure to reverse the current results trennd and get some substantial points from the remaining games will put the manager under increasing pressure with contract talks looming.

Certainly the televised game against Sunderland has now taken on a level of intensity it didn’t seem to have earlier in the season.

With Gus Poyet sacked by Sunderland, Allardyce will probably view this game as another annoying stumbling block. Playing The Black Cats after a dispiriting home defeat by Villa would have been just the tonic the Hammers would have wanted.

Now they face the uncertainty of the rejuvenated team under an interim or newly-appointed manager.

Again, Sam might think that fate has aligned against him but he would make life a lot easier for himself if he could somehow fashion a much-needed win.