‘Scoring a goal like that, it’s surreal’ Teen star steps up as Emery sees his key men struggle
ADAM CRAFTON
WHEN Unai Emery was named as Arsenal manager in May, he was probably unaware of the club’s young English talent Emile Smith Rowe.
Yet in the clogging humidity of Singapore, where celebrated names such as PierreEmerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette toiled against Diego Simeone’s stubborn Atletico Madrid defence, a 17-year-old midfielder from Croydon picked the lock in splendid fashion to equalise for Emery in the Spaniard’s first significant test of pre-season.
Arsenal were 1-0 down following a fine header by Atletico striker Luciano Vietto. Then Smith Rowe glided by three Atletico players, swivelling his hips to open up space. Even as he fell to his right off-balance, he managed to control a powerful strike that curled beautifully into the roof of the goal.
Smith Rowe, who is 18 tomorrow, grinned as he said: ‘It’s a dream come true. I still can’t believe it. I’ll probably go back to my hotel room and think about everything.
‘I only found out the day before the squad left for Singapore that I was coming. We had a training session on Saturday and the kitman came up to me and said, “Here’s your suitcase, you’re travelling”.
‘I came thinking I wanted to impress the manager. But no way did I dream of scoring a goal like that. It’s surreal, crazy. My head’s all over the place.’
Asked if this tops last year’s World Cup win with England Under 17s, he said: ‘Yes, it has to. My first goal for Arsenal.’
Word of Smith Rowe’s potential has been spreading around Arsenal’s London Colney training base.
He had trials at Chelsea as a nine-year-old before joining Arsenal as an Under 10. As a 15-year-old, scouts from Barcelona flew to the USA to observe his progress in an England Under 16s game.
Earlier this year, former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere tipped Smith Rowe to break into the first team and said that the teenager possessed ‘something a little bit special’.
Smith Rowe started as a winger but is increasingly seen as a creative midfielder with fine vision, the ability to beat men and a goalscoring touch. Emery feels a responsibility to nurture young talent, saying: ‘For the history of Arsenal, it needs every year and every day for us to work with young players to give them the chance to work for us and show their quality. He played because he deserves to.’
There is no party planned for Smith Rowe’s 18th birthday but instead he plays for Arsenal against Paris Saint-Germain and mighty goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
‘What better way to spend it,’ Smith Rowe said.
The youngster, who moved to north London to be closer to Arsenal’s training base aged 13, says he wants to feature in the Arsenal first team this season rather than go out on loan.
‘My long-term goal is to get in the first team permanently but this season it’s to try to get as many minutes as I can in the Europa League and cups and hopefully make my Premier League debut,’ he said.
‘I like to keep my feet on the ground. If I carry on doing that I don’t think the attention will get to me. I just have to keep working hard.’
Arsenal eventually lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah missing their spot-kicks for the Gunners.