How David Moyes Is Getting The Best Out Of Marko Arnautovic At West Ham

A resounding 4-1 win at Huddersfield lifted West Ham to 11th in the table. The Hammers have now lost just one of their last eight Premier League matches, that a surprise 3-2 reverse at the hands of Newcastle United last month, as David Moyes continues to work his magic at the London Stadium. Few gave West Ham a chance of survival on the back of his appointment as Slaven Bilic’s successor, yet the former Manchester United and Sunderland boss is excelling in the capital.

The Hammers are far more tactically disciplined and defensively resolute under Moyes, two key factors that were missing under Bilic, while the team shows the necessary character to fight back when up against the ropes rather than crumble under pressure. Previously, West Ham would falter after conceding and effectively shut down to sacrifice a positive result. Under Bilic, Joe Lolley’s equaliser on Saturday would’ve derailed West Ham and it’s likely Huddersfield will’ve then gone on to win.

With Moyes, though, the Hammers battled on to secure a crucial three points. One of his biggest achievements with West Ham to date, however, has been the huge upturn in form of Marko Arnautovic. Signed for a club-record £20m, the former Stoke man struggled with the pressure of expectation in a West Ham side struggling for direction. In Moyes’ favoured 3-4-2-1 formation, Arnautovic has been exceptional, either as one of the two supporting attackers or as the lone striker.

The 28-year-old has now had a direct hand in more goals (9 - 6 goals and 3 assists) than any other West Ham player in the Premier League this season, all of which have come in his last seven league outings, starting with his sole strike in the 1-0 win over Chelsea last month. Playing a more prominent role in Moyes’ side has brought out the best in Arnautovic, who is very much looking the £20m player West Ham had hoped when they secured his services.

That being said, this feels like a record on repeat. There is no denying that Arnautovic is a talented individual, yet the most consistent weapon in his arsenal is his inconsistency. There were periods during his time at Stoke where he would look a world beater for four or five games before going off the boil again. For all Arnautovic’s good work, that could easily come undone as he flitters in and out of form. Similarly, while West Ham occupy 11th, they remains just five points above the relegation zone and a drop in performances could see them plummet back towards the bottom three.

For the good of both himself and the club, Moyes needs to ensure Arnautovic now doesn’t drop off the radar after his purple patch. Just as important, though, is the club retaining the services of Manuel Lanzini. The Argentine has attracted interested from a number of top teams in England this month and deservedly so in the wake of a number of strong attacking showings in the West Ham shirt, while his blossoming relationship with Arnautovic has been vital in the Hammers’ upturn in form.

Indeed, two of Lanzini’s five Premier League assists this season have been for an Arnautovic goal, while two of the latter’s three assists have been for the former to net, those for the Argentine’s brace at Huddersfield on Saturday. The two work well together given their contrasting styles of play. Lanzini brings the guile and attacking ingenuity to this West Ham setup that forward players adore, while Arnautovic’s direct approach and two-footedness - he’s scored three goals with his left and three with his right - offers an air of unpredictability in the final third.

By making runs in behind defences or dropping deep to receive possession, Lanzini has the vision to pick out his teammate and either play him in on goal or look for the return. The partnership between the pair has undoubtedly lifted spirits in east London, but while Lanzini is a consistent attacking star, Arnautovic endures streaks where he goes on a run of games and hits the back of the net on a whim before blowing cold again. If Moyes can prolong the Poundland Ibrahimovic’s run between now and May, it could well be one of his greatest individual managerial accomplishments.