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Exclusive: West Ham's Jarrod Bowen inspired by Mohamed Salah & Erling Haaland's positioning - 'A special art to it'
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Published 26/10/2023 at 11:01 GMT+1
West Ham take on Olympiacos on Thursday night in the Europa League. They'll be hoping to turn things around following their disappointing 4-1 defeat by Aston Villa on Sunday. Jarrod Bowen scored during that match to continue his fine vein of goal scoring form this season. And Bowen, who now has six goals this campaign, has admitted he's been taking notes from Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.
'I want to score every single game' – Bowen looking to Salah and Haaland for inspiration
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jarrod Bowen has lauded Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah for their goal scoring prowess, claiming that the pair's positional play has inspired him to find the back of the net this season.
It has been a busy six months for the 26-year-old, who scored in the dying embers of the Europa Conference League final in June to help West Ham end a 48-year wait for a European title. A month earlier, he and his partner Dani Dyer also welcomed twin baby daughters into the world.
While being busy at home, Bowen has certainly been busy on the football field, continuing on from his excellent performances last season to score six goals in nine Premier League appearances so far during the new campaign.
Having now found the net in three of his last four matches, Bowen opened up on his secret to scoring, claiming that he has been taking note of how the Manchester City and Liverpool forwards operate inside the opposition penalty area.
“I’ve always wanted to score goals and get into the positions where the ball might fall to you,” Bowen, who scored 13 goals last season, said ahead of Thursday's match against Olympiacos, which is live from 5pm on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
“I always want to score goals more than anything,” he added. “I want to score every single game.
“I’m always usually in a position in the box where I know that a chance might fall to me. It’s something I’ve been working on myself really with my dad; he speaks to me about it, he was a centre-forward and he understands it.
“We just have little chats about different runs to make and where to be in the box, and always be in the box. I think Salah’s the best at it and obviously Haaland, too.
“They’re always positioning themselves where they think they’re going to score a goal. People say it’s scoring from four yards out but there’s a special art to it of picking up that space in the box and kind of anticipating where the ball’s going to be.
“So definitely something that I’ve not been working on the training pitch, just more probably looking at videos and having a chat about it really.”
Despite a disappointing 4-1 defeat by Aston Villa on Sunday, Bowen has helped the Irons get their new season off to a solid start, claiming big wins against Chelsea, Brighton and a 2-2 draw with Newcastle.
This season, Bowen is West Ham’s top scorer and is fourth in the Premier League’s Golden Boot race, three goals shy of Haaland at the top of the rankings.
But he’s not resting on his laurels, admitting he’s hoping to break double figures with both goals and assists this season.
“I always set targets at the start of the season,” he said. “Usually double figures in goals and assists in all competitions. I think last year I was 13 goals and eight assists in all competitions.
“So probably it kind of balanced out. I feel better this season in terms of playing, I feel more mature and feel a different kind of person and player and I’m just enjoying my football again.
”I’ve always said that that’s when I’m at my best, when I’m playing with a smile on my face - no fear in the world and take on every challenge.”
West Ham travel to play Olympiacos on Thursday night in the Europa League, which will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
And the winger will be hoping to help the side continue their unbeaten run in the tournament this season.
Bowen spoke of his disappointment from Sunday’s tough loss to Aston Villa but added that his side will be hoping to pick up a win in Athens to build some momentum.
“I think you just face up to what happened,” Bowen said. “You accept it because ultimately we were on the pitch and we have to take responsibility and we were the ones that lost the game.
“As a player and a group we always want to be better. We accept what happened but now it’s time to work and we’ve got to come out firing on Thursday.”
He added: “On the weekend we were disappointed but we want to turn that around now and win the game on Thursday and get some momentum from the win.”
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