West Ham United striker Marko Arnautović is set for a spell on the treatment table after he sustained a hamstring injury in his team’s 3-1 victory over Cardiff City last night.
The Austrian international was chasing after a Felipe Anderson through ball when he pulled up just inside the Bluebirds’ penalty box. A recent report by the Daily Star has confirmed that the Hammers forward left the London Stadium on crutches after picking up the injury.
The East London outfit will monitor the extent of Arnautovic’s injury today, but it is quite likely that he would be out of action until Christmas. Manuel Pellegrini’s side has some winnable fixtures coming up over the next few weeks as the club prepares to clash heads with the likes of Crystal Palace, Fulham, Watford and Southampton respectively. However, it won’t be easy for the Hammers to get some positive results under their belt, especially in the absence of their talismanic striker, Arnautovic.
The 29-year-old has made 14 appearances for West Ham this season, scoring five goals while creating two assists in all competitions. The Wien-born prospect’s recent injury will be a bitter pill to swallow for Pellegrini but with Andy Carroll, Lucas Perez and Javier Hernandez all back in action, the Hammers manager can now concentrate on incorporating them into his first-team so that he can get the best results out of their talents.
What Does Arnautovic Add To Pellegrini’s Team?
Arnautovic is an accomplished finisher inside the opposition penalty box and is very smart with his runs. He takes up dangerous positions in the final third and can score using both feet. The Austrian is also versatile enough to play on the flanks, but he is at his best when operating in a central role up top.
Will His Injury Be A Major Blow For The Hammers?
It would undoubtedly be a massive blow for West Ham to lose him for the rest of this month as the fixtures come thick and fast in the Premier League during this festive period. Lucas Perez stepped up to score a brace after he came on to replace Arnautovic last night. Maybe, the Spanish talent can help ease the workload up top, but that would only happen if he can keep up the same level of performance in the coming weeks.
The Hammers certainly have the squad to cope with Arnautovic’s injury, but he would be a big miss for West Ham nonetheless as his qualities as a forward are irreplaceable.
