One suspects West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen is the sort of footballer who could strike up a fearsome partnership with an inanimate, man-shaped mannequin.
Vladimir Coufal could not speak more highly of Bowen after so many prosperous afternoons together on the flank.
And if there were any concerns that the arrival of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Coufal’s subsequent shift towards a more back-seat role, would require a rebuild from the ground-up, the sight of West Ham United’s two right-siders dovetailing in recent months has at least put brief smiles on unhappy faces during the frown-filled Graham Potter era.
Wan-Bissaka has three assists in the Premier League this season. Two more in the final three matchdays, and this will be his most prosperous campaign yet in England’s top flight.
Both of Wan-Bissaka’s assists across 2025, meanwhile, were converted by the ever-reliable Bowen. Two months after Wan-Bissaka boosted his Hammer of the Year credentials during that shock 1-0 win at Arsenal – his superb delivery headed home by an unmarked Bowen – the £15 million signing from Manchester United set his skipper away to slot through Guglielmo Vicario’s legs and cancel out Wilson Odobert’s early opener on Sunday afternoon against rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
It appears, no matter who starts at right-back these days, Bowen will bring the best out of his partner.
Jarrod Bowen hails Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s impact at West Ham United
Graham Potter is excited by the growing Wan-Bissaka – Bowen partnership. A rare plus point in a season of very few.
Bowen, meanwhile, did not waste the opportunity to highlight ‘The Spider’s influence since that summer switch from Old Trafford; Tottenham the latest team to get caught up in Wan-Bissaka’s net.
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“He’s been brilliant ever since he was walked through the door,” Bowen said. “He’s been in the Premier League for a few years now and shown his quality and done it week in week out here.
“Another assist for him. We knew that was a part of the game we could exploit. ‘Az’ bombing forward and them holding the line and trying to play offside, making those runs to get inside. And it worked perfectly to get the goal.
“But, yeah, ‘Az’ has been consistently good every single week. Every day in training. It’s a pleasure to play with him and have him in our ranks.”
Bowen hits back at critics after Tottenham Hotspur draw
While Wan-Bissaka is just one away from matching his career-best tally in terms of assists, England international Bowen now has double figure goals in three of his last four Premier League campaigns.
“Listen, when you’re captain all eyes and all questions are on you,” Bowen adds. “It’s not been the season we’ve wanted and there have been fingers pointed at me and I’m big enough to accept that.
“I’ve been here long enough and my ego is not going to be touched when people are asking questions. We haven’t been performing this season and I’m captain of this group, of course there’s going to be questions asked.
“I think one thing from me, I turn up every single week, every single day in training and get around the players as well as I know that I can.
“People don’t see me every single day working, how I am every single day. It’s just people’s opinions and you know football is a game of opinions.
“All I do is turn up every single day in training, try and be the best player in training, be the best teammate, be the best captain I can be in training and when it comes to the weekend consistently turn up and show what it means to play for this club.
“I think when you’re captain and when questions come to you, that’s all you can do and that’s all that I’ve tried to do this season.
“You know ultimately, maybe I’ve not done enough because of the position that we’re in. But I’ll never sit away and hide from it, I’ll always face the music, I’ll always face the critics that come with it but I’m trying.”