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Watching Arjen Robben, sessions with Stuart Pearce and running in a potato field: How Bowen put himself in England frame
Jarrod Bowen has unofficially been christened “Arjen Bowen” by supporters at the London Stadium — and the nickname has deeper meaning for staff at West Ham United.
After training sessions at Rush Green, David Moyes’ coaching staff would show the attacker video clips of former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Netherlands winger Arjen Robben. The duo are both left-footed but during the three-minute clips, Bowen observed how Robben was able to glide past defenders and attempt shots and crosses with his right.
The thinking behind this was to make Bowen feel comfortable using his weaker foot. Staff felt his tendency to cut in on his left meant he posed less of a threat.
To freshen it up, they also showed clips of right-footed former Bayern attacker Franck Ribery having success with his left peg, with defenders unsure whether the France international would cut in, or go on the outside.
After these video sessions, discussions lasted between 15 and 30 minutes — and Bowen was tasked with replicating the moves he’d seen Robben and Ribery making. First-team coach, and 78-cap former England left-back, Stuart Pearce would defend against the winger in one-on-one situations.
The catch was that Bowen could dribble with his left foot but had to shoot or cross with his right.
Practice makes perfect, and this has had an impact on the winger’s form. In 31 cup and league appearances this season, Bowen has amassed 10 assists and scored nine goals.
After 22 league games in PL 2021-22
BODY PART TOTAL PER 90
Left
37
1.8
Right
12
0.58
Head
5
0.24
The above table shows the number of goal attempts he has registered with each part of his body. This season, the attacker has taken 12 right-footed shots in 1,857 minutes (0.58 per 90). This is an improvement, considering Bowen attempted that many right-footed shots in the whole of the previous campaign in 2,576 minutes of game time (0.42 per 90).
The 25-year-old also scored a header in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Leeds United — and his numbers there have improved from last season, too. The wide-man had a rating of 0.07 headed attempts per 90 in 2020-21, but now it’s at 0.24.
Bowen’s current contract expires in the summer of 2025, and his form has attracted the attention of Liverpool.
“I like Bowen a lot,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said in November. “He made his way up from Hull and took not too long to show exactly what kind of player he can be in the Premier League. He made big steps.”
Liverpool have continued to monitor Bowen’s progress, and so has England manager Gareth Southgate.
It is no secret Moyes and Southgate have had conversations over the winger’s form, and he could be in the squad for England’s next game — a Wembley friendly against Switzerland at the end of March.
Many of the chances he creates come after he carries the ball forward and Bowen (17) has had more carries resulting in a shot this season than England-squad rivals Raheem Sterling (14), Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka (both 12), Phil Foden, Emile Smith Rowe (both 11), Jadon Sancho (four), Marcus Rashford (three) and Jesse Lingard (two).
Although Grealish, Saka, Sterling and Sancho rank better when it comes to carries that result in a chance being created, Bowen has a better carry-and-assist record.
“When you look at the competition, we mentioned Rashford, Sterling, Grealish and Sancho,” Moyes said. “There are probably more as well, they are just the ones off the top of my head. It is a decision for Southgate. But I think, at the moment, Bowen is probably getting closer to making people say, ‘We are going to have to look to see what he can do (with England)’.
“Sometimes you need people who are slightly different, people who can score goals, and making goals for any team is so important and he is doing it at the highest level. The Premier League is as good as any league in Europe, so I don’t think he’ll be too far away in England’s thoughts.”
Moyes has a knack for signing Championship players and developing them into England internationals. At Everton, he bought Joleon Lescott, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka either directly from second-division clubs or after they’d played at that level, all of whom went on to wear the Three Lions.
Bowen was named in the provisional squad for October’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary but a call-up in March would be fully deserved — especially when you look at the total chances created.
Last season, he was fouled 54 times in the league, more than any other West Ham player. Tomas Soucek was a distant second on 43. So far this campaign, Bowen ranks third in fouls won when up against his England rivals.
He won 11 fouls in the final third last term, and is four away from equalling that tally with 16 games of this season still to play.
Bowen has always attracted close attention from markers. Given his form, several opponents have been drawn to him in recent weeks.
West Ham staff believe the winger has had more joy finding space in the final third this season.
In the 4-1 win away to Watford just after Christmas, arguably his best performance of the season, Bowen provided two assists and won a penalty, which captain Mark Noble converted. Overall, he created five chances and was named man of the match.
Here, Bowen is in possession with two Watford players trying to close him down. Moussa Sissoko is caught ball watching, which allows Soucek to run in behind, with Bowen sliding a ball in to the Czech midfielder for the assist.
The theme recently has been for Bowen to be marked by two opposition players — sometimes three. The biggest compliment to his improvement is that teams fear what he will do when running at them.
In this example, from November’s 3-2 win over Liverpool, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho have no luck closing down the winger. Bowen advances and threads a pass to Pablo Fornals, who scores.
Even on set pieces, he has been able to find space.
In the graphic below, from Sunday’s loss to Leeds United, Bowen is being marked by Leo Hjelde.
Bowen confuses him by turning his back to corner-taker Aaron Cresswell, and his movement allows him to create an extra yard of space and head home a West Ham equaliser.
Bowen, who admires Mohamed Salah’s play at Liverpool, has been a game-changer for West Ham but it has not always been plain sailing during his time in east London.
Last season, while playing in all 38 league games, Bowen was substituted 24 times — the joint-most in the division with Aston Villa forward Bertrand Traore.
There were concerns over his durability, having only completed 90 minutes eight times in 2020-21. So, in the summer, Bowen opted not to go on holiday and to instead work on improving his fitness. He trained by running in a potato field back home in Herefordshire, which has helped strengthen and tone his calf muscles.
He told The Times: “It’s much harder to run on. It’s a potato field opposite my uncle’s house.
“I’ve done all sorts. I remember my dad turned up with four tractor tyres. He also had a wheelbarrow, and a cement mixer, and I had to put the cement in the wheelbarrow and run it up the hill in my dad’s garden. It’s hilly. It’s not flat. It was unreal on the way back when it was empty. I was rapid. No one saw me. He’s out in the sticks. I just saw the occasional horse rider go by on the bridle path.”
Bowen has featured in all 22 of West Ham’s Premier League games this season, starting all but one of them. He has also completed 90 minutes 20 times in all competitions and has played the full match in each of his last eight league fixtures.
His durability, once a concern, is now a strength — which gives him another advantage over his rivals for an England place.
Minutes played in 2021-22 PL season
PLAYER MINUTES PLAYED
Jarrod Bowen
1857
Bukayo Saka
1486
Emile Smith Rowe
1205
Mason Greenwood
1196
Raheem Sterling
1183
Jack Grealish
1158
Phil Foden
1009
Jadon Sancho
939
Marcus Rashford
619
Jesse Lingard
89
Bowen has played more minutes in the league than Saka, Smith Rowe, Greenwood, Sterling and company. The in-form winger has improved over the last 12 months, with dedication to honing his craft on the training ground a contributing factor.
He is used to spending time at West Ham’s Rush Green base during the international break, but in March there may well be a new face up at St George’s Park.
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