ARNIE TURNS TEMINATOR TO TAUNT HUGHES

MARKO ARNAUTOVIC gave his old boss Mark Hughes a withering send-off after pushing Southampton closer to the drop.

New cult hero Arnie scored twice in West Ham’s 3-0 win as Hughes’ battle to save Saints from the Premier League precipice was stillborn.

The East Enders’ record £25million signing had also hastened

Hughes’ demise at

Stoke by scoring in the

Hammers’ win at the bet365 in

December, where his former manager accused the Austrian of winding up the crowd.

But Arnautovic left London with his baseball cap at a jaunty angle, saying: “I respect Mark Hughes and what he’s done for me, but I heard some things when he was talking about me and they were not good things.

“I’m only doing my job, and if I score against Mark Hughes’ team it’s nothing personal. I try to score in every game and I don’t feel sorry for anybody: If we win and I score that’s fine, nothing else matters.

“I don’t care what he says – I perform on the pitch and I try to let my feet do the talking.

“Of course I’m grateful for what he did for me at Stoke when he was my coach, but if he wants to say bad things about me, that’s up to him.”

Arnautovic’s celebration, after putting the Hammers 2-0 up, appeared to be directed at Hughes (below) and left little doubt the Austrian’s loyalties lie closer to pie and mash than the Potteries now.

West Ham’s easy win in a critical relegation battle sent them surging five points clear of Saints.

And after the anarchy of last month’s cataclysmic home defeat by Burnley, the mood inside the ground could not have been more different.

Arnautovic said: “I always enjoy being on the pitch and I love to win – everyone did a good job, not only the players but the fans as well.

“When our fans are behind us, they’re amazing. We gave them what they wanted, so well done to the fans and well done to the boys.

“I feel sharp and

I try to do my best, but whenever I score people ask me, ‘Is this your best year?’

But I work hard every week, and when I come off the pitch after a game I like to think I’ve done everything possible to help my team.

“This game was very different to the last one here, but it was very important to win and this time I can go back to my family, play with my kids and feel happy again.”