OPINION
It has been a case of four Premier League games, four defeats for West Ham, with their dire form leaving them at the very foot of the table heading into the first international break of the season.
Things have not gone as expected for the Irons after their mega-money spending spree over the summer transfer window, with hopes of a top half finish looking like being extinguished before the campaign properly gets underway.
With the joint most goals conceded and the joint least scored, they are also bottom of the goal difference table with Huddersfield, and their lack of apparent firepower has led to big name Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp criticising star forward Marko Arnautovic, suggesting that he is too selfish in his Daily Mail column.
He said: “The problems for West Ham run deeper. Marko Arnautovic is the star man but sometimes when I watch him I wonder whether he is playing for himself and not the team.
“How can Pellegrini motivate him to become the snarling forward who under David Moyes struck fear into defenders?”
Perhaps Redknapp has failed to look at the stats for the season but Arnautovic has scored both of the Irons’ goals this season, and it is that inherent selfishness which often sees him netting when needed – with only Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio seeing him net three in as many games in their clash.
He would not be the first, and will not be the last forward, to have a one-track mind when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net – look at Manchester United hero Ruud Van Nistelrooy, or more recently Diego Costa at Chelea.
The pair were ruthless in front of goal and had an aggressive streak that Arnautovic, who stands at a colossus 6’3″ (source: Transfermarkt) possesses – so he needs to ignore Redknapp and keep playing his own game.
The real problems lie behind him in midfield, where a lack of balance results in a lack of creativity, and the forward is often left feeding off scraps when he can.
Arnautovic is not to blame for the club’s failings so far this season, and comments like this from Redknapp should be ignored, for they appear to be baseless accusations.