The players have to take responsibility to turn things around on the pitch, stated Jarrod Bowen following West Ham United's 3-1 Premier League defeat at Arsenal.
The No20 won a first-half penalty which Saïd Benrahma converted to see the Hammers 1-0 up at the interval in north London, although the lead was cancelled by three second-half goals from the leaders, who swept to a Boxing Day victory.
For Bowen, a defeat to the current Premier League leaders was a tough way to start their resumption of the 2022/23 campaign, but the No20 made no excuses.
Instead, the Hammers forward was quick to challenge himself and his teammates to a response on Friday evening when Brentford visit London Stadium. And Bowen is confident West Ham have the quality to turn it around.
“It is not going our way,” Bowen stated, honestly, “but we have got to fight; it is down to us now.
“We made it too easy for them to come back into the game. We’ve come away to a top team and we got ourselves ahead at half-time, and we had to withstand a lot of pressure, and obviously we expect that, but I think the way we conceded the goals is disappointing from us.
“After [their first goal], they dominated. We should have been a bit more resilient in that spell.
“But it’s down to us players now, no heads down, and keep working. We have had difficult times before, and we have got through it. It is a massive mental thing more than anything. We have to keep believing in the ability in the squad. Yes, we are all disappointed, but when you fall below those standards [we have set over the last two years] you pay the price.
“But we will stick together. It’s tough – nothing is ever easy in this league – it is about rolling our sleeves up and turning the tide our way.”
For Bowen, Friday's home game with Brentford is an immediate opportunity to change the momentum in front of a home crowd returning to London Stadium after seven weeks away due to the mid-season FIFA World Cup break.
“Where we are now is where we have to face up to as players,” Bowen stated. “You have to puff your chest out and go again. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We need to go again and keep pushing.
“These fans are the best in the league – and they are going to be disappointed, with the situation, especially after the success that we have had.
“But the main thing is that the fans are part of that spirit, and I know they will create a good atmosphere [on Friday]. And it is down to us as players to create a good atmosphere, it is down to us to give the fans a positive performance on the pitch.”
