ARNIE’S MAKING MARKO
Pell has a new leader
MARKO ARNAUTOVIC has bounced back from his Brighton bashing to become a true leader, says West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini.
But Pellegrini believes his Austrian hitman still has more to do to become a real top player.
After their 3-0 home hammering by tonight’s opponents Brighton last October, pundit Gary Neville said of Arnautovic: “That guy is Ronaldo in his own mind. That’s the problem, he thinks he is better than he is.”
In the end Arnautovic’s debut season at the London Stadium didn’t get going until December. Having failed to score in his first 13 appearances and after being sent off once, he ended the campaign with 11 goals in his final 22 games.
But he has started brilliantly this term with four goals to become a key figure for the Hammers.
Praised
And Pellegrini said: “He is a leader, part of the things I demand.
“Marko has character, a difficult character, he is always trying to give all of him because it is the way he feels the football.
“Now he is controlling himself more, so I hope we will not have any problems. I think he can score more. He must have a complete season. He has done well this season but to be a top player you must try and score in every game.”
Pellegrini also praised captain Mark Noble for the role he has played in the Hammers’ turnaround, helping them go four unbeaten since his return from injury, after they lost their first four league games.
Pellegrini was quickly made aware of long-serving Noble’s importance to the club when he took over.
After being told just how influential Noble was by Pablo Zabaleta, Pellegrini made a point of meeting up with the midfielder on holiday to get the lowdown on life at West Ham. Pellegrini said: “When you are a captain it is because you are a player that needs to be a leader. “Mark has a lot of reasons why he is the captain. It is very important to have someone like him in the dressing room.”