West Ham boss Moyes questions Bowen dive after challenge from Arsenal keeper Ramsdale
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David Moyes has questioned Jarrod Bowen’s decision to dive over a challenge from Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale during West Ham’s 2-1 loss on Sunday afternoon.
In the 52nd minute, the game was locked at 1-1 after a fine finish from Bowen cancelled out Rob Holding’s first Premier League goal.
Ramsdale sprinted out of his goal in an attempt to cut out a dangerous through-ball to Bowen, sliding into a tackle where his studs were exposed and high.
However, the West Ham attacker swerved to the right, and then dived over Ramsdale’s leg to avoid contact.
The 25-year-old was subsequently booked for simulation by referee Mike Dean.
If Ramsdale had made contact with Bowen, it would have been up to Dean to decide whether the Arsenal goalkeeper constituted the last man. Arsenal scored from a corner through Gabriel two minutes later.
Asked about the incident by Sky Sports after full-time, Moyes said: “I don’t ever want my players to dive. I just don’t really believe in it. I think the game is hard enough. I don’t want them to do that.
“I think Jarrod could just have left his leg there, and kept going into the goalkeeper. Easy. And maybe he should have.
“It was a reckless challenge, no matter what. But the goalkeeper, the only thing that went for him in the clash was that there was no contact.
“You can’t do much about it — but I think Jarrod could probably have kept his foot in it, and then we might have had a different situation.”
Arsenal move above Tottenham to retake fourth spot, while West Ham remain seventh.
(Photo: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)