A number of West Ham United supporters have been bemoaning the absence of Marko Arnautovic from their starting line up against Chelsea on Sunday.
The Hammers talisman was substituted with an injury after scoring in the 3-1 win over Everton last weekend, and he has failed in his quest to be fit for the Blues test.
The Austria international was replaced by Michail Antonio in West Ham’s starting line up, but that has failed to console the club’s supporters.
Forever West Ham has rounded up some of the best tweets below.
Right time to go
— West Ham Transfers (@westhamtransfer) September 23, 2018
— speech (@sp77ch) September 23, 2018
No Arnie 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/QNjDhMugYE
— A.Ǝ.M父 (@Alfie_Marsh) September 23, 2018
Shame that Arnie is not available. Hopefully Antonio will put in a shift & cause some havoc
— Mark Speller (@marks_WHUFC85) September 23, 2018
As much as we will miss Arnie, Antonio up top is lethal, watch him bang.
— ⚒S-MAZ⚒ (@Lazy_Shit_) September 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/hammers_chat/status/1043828041137442817
Big blow about Arnautovic, but we have a team that shouldn’t have to depend on 1 man.
This game is for Anderson, Yarmolenko and definitely Antonio to prove they are just as crucial. #WHUFC #COYI
— West Ham News & Views (@WestHamViews_) September 23, 2018
No Arnautovic, no party 😑
— Capt (@_JamaicaJamaica) September 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/BedweII/status/1043827740741435392
OPINION
You have to sympathise with West Ham supporters here. A derby match against their big rivals, and they’re without their best player. There’s talent in this Hammers team, but Antonio is a far cry from Arnautovic up front. The fact that Antonio, a midfielder by trade, is preferred to an actual centre forward in Lucas Perez says it all about the impression the former Arsenal man has made so far at the London Stadium. Chelsea, with their 100% record so far this season, are tough enough opposition as it is, so for manager Manuel Pellegrini to be without the talismanic Austrian is a real hammer blow to the team’s hopes today. That’s not to say that the East London outfit can’t win, simply that their task has been made much harder by the 29-year-old’s absence. Still, squads are built for a reason so the Hammers will simply have to soldier on without Arnautovic, and try to secure their second league win of the season.
