Surprising statistics show that West Ham star Jarrod Bowen is actually on the same level as Arsenal hero Bukayo Saka.
West Ham have gone backwards this season and much of that is down to their increasing over-reliance on Jarrod Bowen amid his own struggles to find top form.
At Arsenal the opposite is true. There has been less reliance on Bukayo Saka and the Gunners team has grown into shock title favourites.
Bowen has slowly but surely been finding something like his best form in recent months. And my how West Ham need him to continue in the vein with the club’s very Premier League survival at stake.
Bowen’s form was so good for West Ham over the last two seasons that the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool were linked with moves for the Hammers attacker.
Given his tail off for much of this season and Arsenal’s meteoric rise under Mikel Arteta, many have written Bowen off being anywhere close to the same bracket as the the likes of Saka.
But surprising statistics show West Ham star Bowen is on the same level as Arsenal hero Saka.
Saka has been heralded – and rightly so – for his performances for Arsenal since he emerged as one of the top talents for England and in the Premier League.
But Bowen has struggled to convince England boss Gareth Southgate he is worthy of a regular place in the Three Lions squad.
However, one look at official Premier League statistics shows Bowen is very much rubbing shoulders with Saka in figures which may surprise many.
Surprising statistics show West Ham star Jarrod Bowen is on the same level as Arsenal hero Bukayo Saka
| Bukayo Saka | Jarrod Bowen | |
| Appearances | 125 | 120 |
| Goals | 29 | 25 |
| Assists | 25 | 21 |
In 125 top flight appearances Saka has 29 goals and laid on 25 assists for Arsenal – a combined 54 goal contributions.
In five games less for West Ham (120), Bowen has scored just four fewer (25) and laid on four less assists (21) – a combined 46 goal contributions.
In fact one could argue Bowen’s numbers are more impressive given he plays for an inferior team at West Ham than Saka does at Arsenal.
The West Ham star will undoubtedly add to his tally in the five matches he has in hand on Saka, closing the small gap further still.
So while Saka deserves all the credit coming his way, Bowen’s talent and contribution should not be underestimated.
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