Arnautovic delighted to mark full West Ham debut with goal

Marko Arnautovic was pleased to get off the mark in a Claret and Blue shirt after scoring in West Ham United’s 2-2 Betway Cup second leg draw with Werder Bremen.

The Hammers’ Club-record signing was on target against his former employers in the German town of Lohne, reacting quickest to poke Arthur Masuaku’s cross into the net. Toni Martinez then put West Ham in front, only for Yuning Zhang’s late strike to secure a 3-2 aggregate victory and the trophy for the Bundesliga side following Friday’s 1-0 defeat in Schneverdingen.

Arnautovic was naturally pleased with his goal, but tellingly prouder of his team’s second, which came at the end of a superb pitch-length move which culminated in Andre Ayew’s pinpoint cross and Martinez’s clinical header.

We are really thankful to the fans who have come out to support us in Germany and of course we will need them the whole season, because you never know how the season goes

Marko Arnautovic

First of all, it was very good that I played the full 90 minutes,” he began. “In the first half, I think we showed that we dominated the game a lot and Werder Bremen were sitting back waiting for the counter-attack.

“In my opinion, we have to create more chances because the chances we did have were very good. Of course, I’m very happy with the goal but for me personally, our second goal was amazing, how we played this out and the finishing.

“We are very pleased for this and now we keep going and we have another ten days until the Premier League starts.”

Speaking to whufc.com in front of two sets of fans, one of whom adored him and the other will surely do likewise if he continues in this vein, Arnautovic said the warm welcome he has been given by everyone associated with the Club has made settling in a simple task.

“It was a very perfect welcome,” he confirmed. “The boys took me great and all of them, the staff and the players, have been amazing.

“We are really thankful to the fans who have come out to support us in Germany and of course we will need them the whole season, because you never know how the season goes.

“We will give everything and we hope that the fans also give everything and we will see how we finish.”

The Austria star and his new teammates will enjoy a rare day off before returning to training on Monday ahead of a visit to Hamburg to take on Altona 93 on Tuesday evening.

West Ham complete their pre-season schedule with a prestige Super Match meeting with Manchester City in the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, on Friday 4 August.