MEAN, MOODY,
MARKO ARNAUTOVIC is determined to make up for lost time and prove he is worthy of his status as West Ham’s record signing.
The £24million forward made it six goals in as many Premier League games and created the other three as the Hammers continued their revival under David Moyes (right).
Central to that resurgence has been Arnautovic, a player of enormous talent whose brooding and complex nature has never allowed him to fully realise his huge potential.
At Stoke, his inconsistency frustrated those who knew he was capable of more, but Moyes is getting the best out of the 28-year-old and reaping the benefits with West Ham’s march up the table.
Back in August, after a red card on his second appearance for the Hammers and an illness which debilitated him, West Ham fans were openly questioning the wisdom of Arnautovic’s signing.
But Moyes, having moved Arnautovic from his traditional wide role into a central position, has worked out which buttons to push to ensure the Austrian produces his best.
“Everyone knows at times he looks a moody boy, but I’ve found him really, really good and also very funny,” said Moyes. “But we’re keeping him on a short leash!
“He’s not as challenging as it gets because he’s someone who knows the right things and I have to say he’s been great. Probably even more important is where the questions were – that he wasn’t running about, he wasn’t putting in the effort.
“Well, that would be the last thing you’d say about him now.
“What we won’t allow him to do now is drop back to where he was. Now we’re saying he has to keep it up.
“He missed the Tottenham game with an injury, he didn’t play against Shrewsbury, so we’re getting him back fresh.
“But I’m still working to get him through 90 minutes at that level, that speed.
“He’s doing 70 minutes and we’re saying, ‘No, we want more from you.’
“Maybe I can’t get all that into him yet, but he has given us a great level of speed and energy.
“We’re getting him more of the ball, as he’s a big man to get the ball off and he’s got speed and power.
“What we’ve given him is the chance to prove to West ham supporters and say, ‘I can run and I will run and I’m not maybe what you think and will prove I’m a really good player and worth of all the money you paid’.”
Arnautovic admitted he did not have the best of starts to his West Ham career but said he is relishing being back on form and said he can get even better.
“I had a tough start because of the red card and a bad illness,” said Arnautovic.
“I lost a lot of energy and I tried everything after the international team to come back, train hard and just be healthy.
“I’m there where I want to be, but I want to improve day by day and to keep going.”
Team-mate Pablo Zabaleta, who joined the club in the summer along with Arnautovic, revealed the role he played in helping him rediscover his best form.
“I remember the first time I met him at West Ham,” said Zabaleta. ”I said to him, ‘Marko, when you’re on your day, you’re one of the best players. But you have to keep focused and if you do this, you have enough quality to make the difference.’ “We’re seeing the best of him, playing in a different role. When he first came, he was playing more on the left. But he’s doing really well for us.”
Mark Noble opened the scoring for West Ham, thanks to a blunder from Joe Lolley, who atoned with a majestic equaliser just before the break.
West Ham ran amok in the second half, Arnautovic scoring within seconds of the restart, then turning provider as Manuel Lanzini plundered two further goals to seal the win.