Manuel Pellegrin Fires Striker Warning

West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini has warned Marko Arnautovic to knuckle down and focus on football next season.

Arnautovic scored his first goals since January as the Hammers swept aside Southampton 3-0 in their final home Premier League game of the season.

The temperamental Austrian’s form deserted him after his unseemly attempt to secure a lucrative switch to China during the January transfer window.

Arnautovic has even been booed by West Ham fans for his indifferent displays since the proposed move failed to materialise. But the forward was back to his menacing best with two goals as the Hammers secured their biggest home win of the season. “With this team, with Marko, a complete season that is quiet, calm and just playing football, he is a player who makes a difference,” said Pellegrini. “I’m sure this season will be a good lesson for him, he learned some things.

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I am absolutely convinced next season we will see a great Marko.” The win came on the back of a 1-0 win over Tottenham last weekend, and Pellegrini was delighted with what he saw. “I talked with the players before the game and told them that after an important victory against Tottenham the best way to finish was winning in front of our own fans,” he added. “It’s important to enjoy these moments.”