Marko Arnautovic backs new West Ham signings to make major impact in Premier League

Pre-season optimism | Arnautovic is impressed with West Ham's transfer business
Action Images via Reuters
James Benge8 August 2018

Marko Arnautovic is backing his cadre of new West Ham team-mates to make a major impact on the Premier League.

By the time the transfer window closes on Thursday West Ham are expected to have spent over £100million on nine signings, with the duo of Lucas Perez and Carlos Sanchez set to join in the coming hours.

Incoming manager Manuel Pellegrini has led a dramatic overhaul of the Hammers squad, breaking West Ham’s transfer record with £42million deal for Felipe Anderson and adding marquee free agents Jack Wilshere and Ryan Fredericks.

“We have some great signings,” Arnautovic told Sky Sports. "They are hungry guys who want to come and show themselves in the toughest league, the Premier League, it's a very hard league.

"The gaffer has changed a lot here, he wants us to play from the back, no long balls and chasing balls, we have to defend our balls but we have to defend our goal properly first then we go forward.

"I hope I will score more than 11, I will start from the first game. I was not happy at the start of last season, more disappointed than anyone else. I am fit, ready and hungry for the next season."

​Arnautovic’s assessment was echoed by Wilshere, who signed for his boyhood club after his contract at Arsenal expired.

"We've got some good players, especially going forward, [Andriy] Yarmolenko and Anderson have settled in really well, they're going to bring something different,” Wilshere said.

“Everyone knows how difficult this league is but we're excited, we're a good team going forward and in this league we need to defend as a team well and then we'll have the opportunity to go forward and create chances."

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