Kouyate says Arnautovic has saved West Ham from relegation

Follow us on Google Discover

Cheikhou Kouyate was full of praise for West Ham teammate Marko Arnautovic.

West Ham United midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate has told the club’s official website that had it not been for Marko Arnautovic’s performances, the Hammers would have already been relegated.

Arnautovic, 29, joined the east Londoners in the summer as part of a club-record fee from Stoke City, but struggled to get going under Slaven Bilic at the start of the season.

However, the introduction of David Moyes as manager has got the best out of the former Inter Milan and Werder Bremen forward, who has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet under Moyes.

Kouyate told the club’s official website that he loves Austria international Arnautovic, and believes the Hammers number seven has saved the team from suffering relegation. Kouyate also set Arnautovic a tough target of scoring six or seven more goals this season.

“Marko is an unbelievable guy. He is a great player and he is here for us through good and bad,” Kouyate said. “We could be down without Marko because he has scored so many goals for us, he is on fire.

“I love this guy – he is a great player, he speaks to everyone and makes us laugh. He is a teammate. When everything is not good, he is here and when you are in a bad moment you need guys like Marko. This is why I love this man.

“I think it’s possible he can score another six or seven goals before the end of the season. He has good feelings and has everything he needs to do it.”

West Ham have just five more Premier League games to play as they sit seven points above the drop in 14th place, following Monday night’s 1-1 draw against Arnautovic’s old side Stoke.

This season, the powerful 6ft 3in star has scored nine goals and laid on another six in assists, and will be looking to at least push himself into double figured before the end of the season.

Arnautovic is likely to start on Saturday as the Hammers face London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, who will be nervous after losing 2-1 to Newcastle United last time out.