West Ham’s growth as a club has never been more amply demonstrated than four wins and a draw in their initial attempt in the Europa League.
Frankly it’s been astonishing achievement when also placed alongside the Premier League results particularly given the size of the squad.
Jarrod Bowen has been an essential member of the European campaign which has topped Group H and is now heading into the last 16 avoiding the drop out Champions League clubs as a result.
Bowen’s personal rise from Hull and the Championship to a player feted across the land has been pleasing and thoroughly deserved.
Nobody attacks games with more enthusiasm and energy and in many respects he typifies what the new West Ham is all about.
“Obviously it’s our first experience of this competition and we want to stay in it as long as we can, so to finish top of the group and to go straight into the Round of 16 is what we wanted to do, and we’ve done it really well.
Talking to www.whufc.com he said: “We’re doing well, and now we just want to keep progressing and taking each game as it comes and seeing where we go.”
The performance against Rapid Vienna, after eight changes to the starting XI, gave Bowen plenty of encouragement.
And he added: “I think it was controlled. On another day, we probably would have scored a few more goals.
“Playing away from home in Europe, it’s always difficult, but we got the job done and to be group winners is what we wanted to do.”
