Marko Arnautovic has become integral to West Ham United after a torrid start to his Hammers career, but is he justifying that status?
West Ham fans love a maverick attacker and after Dimitri Payet’s painful departure the Hammers have been desperate for one.
After a torrid start to life in East London following a £25 million move from Stoke it did not look like Marko Arnautovic would be that man.
Fast forward a year, though, and not only has he become West Ham’s talisman, he is all they have got.
Arnautovic has started the season with 4 goals in 8 games for Manuel Pellegrini’s Hammers.
He was immense in West Ham’s only wins so far, over Everton and Manchester United.
His enigmatic displays and growing importance since December – when David Moyes switched his position – have seen comparisons with West Ham legend Paolo Di Canio (Daily Star).
The problem is, as has been the case throughout the Austrian’s career, Arnautovic is inconsistent and indifferent at times just like he was against bitter rivals Spurs last time out.
Yes Arnautovic is comfortably West Ham’s key player in the absence of the likes of Manuel Lanzini.
But the harsh truth is he is not fit to lace Di Canio’s boots and the comparisons are unfair to both him and the Italian.
He must do a lot more to been mentioned in such company.
Snatching at chances has arguably cost West Ham at least two points in their last two games, both 1-0 defeats where he has missed excellent opportunities.
West Ham fans love Arnie and they will need him because at the moment with the injuries to the likes of Lanzini, Andy Carroll and now Andriy Yarmolenko he is all they have got.
But hold fire on the Di Canio comparisons, to be a hero at West Ham you have always had to earn it.
Arnautovic needs to be the difference in the big games on a regular basis for West Ham.
And that doesn’t mean against the likes of the top four or Spurs, but against their direct rivals in the league like Leicester City this weekend.
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