---
title: "On this day: West Ham fire three past Southampton"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2021/03/31/on-this-day-west-ham-fire-three-past-southampton/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2021-03-31T11:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-03-31T11:00:00Z"
---

# On this day: West Ham fire three past Southampton

On this day (March 31) in 2018, [West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2021/03/31/chris-sutton-thinks-declan-rice-has-become-stronger-this-season/) put [three past Southampton without reply](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43524309)at the London Stadium with Marko Arnautovic at the double.

The now much-maligned Austrian was on [scintillating form](https://www.sofascore.com/player/marko-arnautovic/21927) that day as the Hammers cruised past the Saints on their way to a 13th place finish during [David Moyes](https://readwestham.com/2021/03/05/david-moyes-hopes-to-have-either-lukasz-fabianski-and-darren-randoph-ready/)‘ first spell in charge.

At the time toying with the relegation zone, this result proved to be the catalyst behind an upturn in fortunes for the Irons as they[finished the season nine points clear](https://www.premierleague.com/tables?co=1&se=79&ha=-1)of the drop.

The other goalscorer on the day was another man no longer with the club, Joao Mario – who currently[plies his trade for Sporting Lisbon](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joao-mario/leistungsdaten/spieler/149729), where he is spending the[season on loan](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joao-mario/transfers/spieler/149729) from Inter Milan.

Arnautovic’s unamicable [departure from East London](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2019/july/08-july/marko-arnautovic-departs-west-ham-united-chinese-super-league#:~:text=West%20Ham%20United%20can%20confirm,appearances%20in%20Claret%20and%20Blue.) came just over a year after this clash, following a well documented transfer saga that ultimately saw the 31-year-old [join Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/marko-arnautovic/transfers/spieler/41384).

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Unfortunately, Arnautovic will always be best[remembered for his off-field antics](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/01/22/west-ham-assure-unsettledmarko-arnautovic-can-leave-summer-suitable/) that brought about his departure as opposed to days like this one.

The [86-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/marko-arnautovic/nationalmannschaft/spieler/41384/verein_id/3383) Austria star was a force to be reckoned with on his day during his time with West Ham – scoring[22 goals and making 12 assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/marko-arnautovic/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/41384) in 65 outings.