HE’S OUT OF THIS WORLDIE
Vietto 41 EMILE SMITH ROWE scored a wonder goal to mark his arrival at Arsenal, before claiming it felt even better than winning the World Cup.
The 17-year-old Croydon boy was a midfielder in the England Under-17 squad which triumphed in India last October.
But he said his Singapore slingshot past Atletico Madrid’s substitute keeper Antonio Adan was an even better feeling than that.
Smith Rowe skipped away from two challenges before unleashing a cracking effort from the edge of the 18-yard box to cancel out Luciano Vietto’s 41st-minute header.
“It has to top that,” said the teenager, of his World Cup win. “My first goal for Arsenal.”
He only turns 18 tomorrow and, while he insisted he had not made any plans to celebrate, you can bet his family and friends will be lining up the drinks when he gets home on Sunday.
Smith Rowe added: “It’s definitely an early present, it’s just a dream come true. I still can’t believe it has happened.
“I came on tour, thinking I wanted to impress the boss and do as well as I can.
“But to get a goal like that is so surreal. It’s crazy, I can’t really explain it – my head’s all over the place
“I only found out the day before the squad left that I was coming with them.
“We had a training session on the Saturday and the kitman came up to me straight after and said, ‘Here’s your suitcase, you’re travelling’.
“Since that day, I’ve been so happy and have enjoyed every moment.
“All the players have been so welcoming. I know a couple of the young boys, I’ve played with them quite a lot.
“But to be with the older players and for them to be so welcoming is just great.
“I’ve trained with the senior team before, but this is my only real chance that I’ve had so far.
“Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-emerick Aubameyang have looked out for me, they’re so funny and so welcoming.”
Smith Rowe joined Arsenal’s Smith Rowe 47 Under-10s and then turned professional at 17.
Now he is adamant that he will not be going on loan, but will fight for as many minutes as possible with his club.
Smith Rowe said: “My longterm 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.”
But he insists his new-found stardom won’t go to his head.
He added: “I like to keep my feet on the ground and keep my head down and work hard.
“If I carry on doing that, I don’t think the attention will get to me. I just have to keep working hard.”
Boss Unai Emery said: “He has grown up in the academy and we need to give young players a chance to work for us and play games like today.”
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah all missed penalties for Arsenal, with Ainsley Maitland-niles – with a Panenka – the only Gunner scoring from the spot.
Atletico keeper Adan scored the decisive shoot-out kick.