Michael Owen has been training with West Ham ahead of the Man City clash and Arsenal will absolutely love what he saw.
Premier League legend Michael Owen has been at West Ham’s Rush Green training base this week.
And what he saw may just fill everyone at West Ham’s London rivals Arsenal with renewed hope.
There is massive focus on West Ham’s season finale at Man City this Sunday.
Not just because it is David Moyes’ last game as West Ham boss but more so its significance in deciding who wins the Premier League title between the hosts and Arsenal.
There has been a lot of talk about integrity – or lack of it – in the Premier League this week.
Arsenal will be hoping West Ham show much more of it than their rivals Spurs did against Manchester City in midweek.
Spurs fans were seen celebrating Man City scoring in a 2-0 defeat and conspiracy theories have abound about Son Heung-min’s desire to score when through one-on-one late on with the score at 1-0.
The 2-0 win for Man City sets up a huge season finale with puts West Ham on stage with the starring role.
Arsenal must beat Everton at home on Sunday and hope West Ham can do them the biggest of favours at the Etihad.
Traditionally West Ham and Arsenal have never shared any big rivalry.
But the £105m deal which took Declan Rice from West Ham to Arsenal has created one of sorts.
West Ham supporters have been goaded by some of their Arsenal counterparts over taking their captain Rice away from them since last summer.
Rice said he left West Ham for Arsenal to compete for and win the biggest trophies around.
They don’t come much bigger than the Premier League.
So there is a delicious irony that the Hammers now very much hold Arsenal’s title hopes in their hands.
Going into the game the Gunners have been scratching around for a semblance of hope that West Ham would have significant motivation for the clash with Man City beyond professional pride.
West Ham have nothing to play for after their ninth placed finish was confirmed by Man United and Chelsea wins last night.
As we stated ahead of the game, five West Ham stars give Arsenal every reason to be hopeful.
But none more so than Jarrod Bowen.
Bowen will clearly be out to impress as he looks to guarantee a place in the England squad for the Euros.
One of the best players in the Premier League this season, Bowen is always a threat.
Arsenal have experienced that first hand this season. The forward makes West Ham tick and has always stated his huge respect for Moyes, meaning he will want to send the Scot off on a high.
Bowen is looking to add to the 20 goals and 10 assists which have made him a serious contender for that England squad at the Euros.
He knows Gareth Southgate will be watching closely so Arsenal fans can rest assured there will be no let up at all from Bowen, who is good friends with Rice.
One man who knows all about scoring important goals has been at West Ham’s Rush Green base this week.
Michael Owen trains with West Ham and Arsenal will absolutely love what he saw.
The legend, who scored 150 Premier League goals in his career, has taken to his Instagram to share a picture with West Ham’s top scorer Bowen and young goalkeeper Krisztian Hegyi.
Owen, dressed in West Ham training kit, revealed he has been doing a finishing masterclass with Bowen ahead of the crunch title decider with Man City.
And there’s good news for Arsenal because Owen said Bowen was ‘brilliant’.
“Filmed another finishing masterclass today,” Owen said.
“Jarrod Bowen was brilliant. Coming soon for the global audience on Premier League TV.”
Arteta and his Gunners will be pleased to know it certainly seems to have kept Bowen very much in the zone too.
West Ham have shared a video on their Instagram Stories which shows Bowen curling home an absolutely word class goal into the top corner during a training game – to the applause of his Hammers teammates.
It might not sit well with some West Ham fans who don’t want to be the reason Arsenal – and Rice – win the title.
But the way Man City celebrated after beating Spurs – as if their job was done – has irked some Hammers supporters.
If Michael Owen says Bowen is looking sharp then Arsenal will be pinning all their hopes on him.
Look out for Mohammed Kudus too, though. He’s been playing brilliantly without scoring recently and is due a goal.
The only thing West Ham can’t guarantee is keeping Man City out at the other end having conceded 71 goals this season – their worst ever.