‘A real centre forward’s performance’ - Shearer praises Marko Arnautovic

Marko Arnautovic

Alan Shearer hailed Marko Arnautovic’s display at Everton as a ‘real centre forward’s performance’ after the Austrian scored one and set one up in West Ham United’s 3-1 victory at Everton.

Arnautovic was an authoritative figure at Goodison Park, winning 75 per cent of his aerial duels, providing the assist for Andriy Yarmolenko’s opener and scoring with his only shot of the game.

The No7’s performance caught the eye of the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer Shearer, who selected both him and Yarmolenko in his team of the week.

The former Blackburn and Newcastle legend said: “It was a real centre-forward's performance [from Arnautovic].

“He scored a very good goal and provided an assist when his team needed it most. Led the line with such authority.” 

In naming his team of the week, Shearer reminded readers that he tipped Yarmolenko as one to watch at the start of the season and was surprised that he hadn’t started until now, although Manuel Pellegrini’s patience with the Ukrainian was rewarded with his two-goal blast on Merseyside.

Alan Shearer’s Team of the Week: David de Gea (Manchester United), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City), Andrew Robertson (Liverpool), Andriy Yarmolenko (West Ham United), James Milner (Liverpool), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Ryan Fraser (AFC Bournemouth), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Marko Arnautovic (West Ham United)