Sometimes certain things are so obvious they don’t need awkward explanations and Jarrod Bowen’s celebration in West Ham’s draw at Everton is one of those occasions.
West Ham got the Nuno Espirito Santo era off to a very encouraging start with a 1-1 draw in their reunion with David Moyes.
It looked like being Groundhog Day for the Hammers when they fell behind to what officially goes down as yet another goal conceded from a corner.
That was the eighth goal West Ham have conceded from a corner in six games this season, well on course to breaking the all-time Premier League record of 16.
It was also the 10th goal the Hammers have conceded from crosses.
Brilliant Bowen gives Nuno something to build on at West Ham
While Graham Potter has looked lost and motionless on the touchline when his team have been struggling, Nuno was visibly furious with the defending for the goal.
The Portuguese kept his players in the changing room for just 11 minutes at half-time, sending them all back out early.
Whatever Nuno said to the players worked because West Ham’s second half performance was among their best for some time.
The brilliant Crysencio Summerville and El Hadji Malick Diouf combined down the left as the latter sent in a superb cross on the end of a blistering run.
It found its way to Jarrod Bowen on the right-hand side of the box and the rest was inevitable as he cut in on that sweet left foot to smash home.
It was what happened next that proved one of the game’s biggest talking points, though.
And the real target of Bowen’s celebration is obvious after a shocking West Ham leak.
After making history by becoming the first opposition player to score at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson stadium, Bowen did a knee slide to the corner flag before celebrating in front of West Ham’s sold out away end.
Real target of Bowen celebration obvious after West Ham leak
Bowen kissed the badge and pointed to the crowd but both before and after that he was seen mimicking a mouth talking with his hand and then cupping his ears and appearing to say ‘keep talking’.
Since being signed by Moyes in January 2020, Bowen has been head and shoulders West Ham’s best and most consistent player.
He is closing in on surpassing Michail Antonio as the club’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.
Bowen has been a shining example as a leader in how he conducts himself and works tirelessly for the team.
So he would undoubtedly have been aggrieved when journalist Roshane Thomas revealed a damning leak from Potter following his sacking.
The reporter named a host of players Potter fell out with during his time at West Ham.
But the details of his leak meant another would be added to the list after his sacking in the shape of talisman Bowen.
Thomas claimed sources close to Potter revealed to him that the sacked manager had serious concerns over ‘Bowen’s inability to captain the team’.
The report stated that Potter acknowledged Bowen was the club’s best player but did not feel he naturally suited the captaincy role.
‘Keep talking’ Bowen tells Potter after questioning his captaincy
It was a low blow, especially given the Hammers skipper fronted the disastrous Potter reign on a weekly basis for the cameras.
Now it is clear Bowen was not best pleased with his former manager’s opinion – based on his celebration.
That also probably explains why, both before and after the game, Bowen did not offer any notable comments or pleasantries when asked directly about the sacking of Potter.
Instead he said the players were excited to work under Nuno.
Bowen has always done his talking on the pitch and leads by example with passion.
Perhaps Potter should try something similar in his next role. Although he may be in for a long wait.
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