West Ham United goalkeeper David Martin says the team need to “dig in” and show “grit and determination” in the wake of their 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.

Martin was making his home debut for the Hammers after appearing in the away games against Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It looked as though it could have been a joyous first outing at the London Stadium for the 33-year-old after a positive opening hour from the hosts, but the Gunners, under the temporary guidance of former Hammer Freddie Ljungberg, hit back with three quick goals.

Speaking to the club website after the game, Martin said: “That’s how I try and play, to try and be calm and give that feeling around for other people, but tonight obviously, once that first goal went in, it was not good enough and we’ve got to show more character than that.

“I was brought up on character and the West Ham way, and you’ve got to dig in sometimes. It’s not all going to be pretty football and when the chances come along, hopefully we’ll take them.

“At times like this, you’ve got to dig in and when that first goal went in you’ve got to go ‘Right, OK, the minimum now is they don’t score again and if we can nick one and put the momentum the other way, then great’, but it takes grit and determination to play for this club.”

Martin felt as though the Hammers deserved their half-time lead, given to them by Angelo Ogbonna’s header, and there appeared to be little chance of Arsenal mounting any sort of comeback.

However, they started to threaten Martin’s goal and within nine minutes of the hour mark, the visitors were effectively home and dry through Gabriel Martinelli, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Martin said: “I thought we played really well in the first half and deserved a one-nil lead but the second half was not good enough from all of us and we’ve got to have a reaction now because of that.

“For their first goal it [Sead Kolasinac’s cross] went through Ryan Fredericks’ leg and he [Martinelli] found himself with the whole goal to aim at and it happens like that sometimes in football and it’s about being strong enough and brave enough to keep playing like we did in the first half and keep doing the right things.”

Despite the result, there was still a huge positive for Martin, having made his home debut for the club he has supported all his life at the age of 33.

He said: “It was a bit emotional hearing ‘I’m forever blowing Bubbles’ and walking out to them and I had to concentrate on keeping focussed.

“But we’re all gutted about the result. It’s a great day for my family but it would have been a lot better with the three points.”