Arnautovic has fire in his belly

I NEVER milked it when I scored against my former clubs. It all depends on how you leave. Inside I was delighted to score but did not feel any animosity towards the sides I had left. I found the net just four minutes into my first return to Norwich with Blackburn in 1994 and eight years later headed in for Celtic at Ewood Park in the UEFA Cup. Had I been subjected to the abuse Marko Arnautovic received when going back to Stoke with West Ham, I would have celebrated with equal vigour. Good on him for giving the Hammers sign (as shown by Paolo Di Canio, right) — it told me he has plenty of fire his his belly. He looks a totally different player since David Moyes arrived. He is looking lean, mean and hungry. Plenty of incoming managers say they will improve the players’ fitness. this is the first time I have noticed a real difference. West Ham are running four miles further per match than they were under Slaven Bilic. Arnautovic has clearly responded and is becoming West Ham’s first- choice No 9. He has the physicality and ability to thrive as the lone striker. Andy Carroll is not as mobile and Javier Hernandez’s hold-up play is not as good. With more composed finishing, Arnautovic could have scored a bagful on Saturday. It only bodes well for West Ham... and Stoke must realise what they have lost.