Smith Rowe still has to change with the kids

TEEN sensation Emile Smith Rowe says his Arsenal teammates will not see a change in him after his first competitive goal for the club.

That’s because he is not allowed in their dressing room!

The London Colney training ground is split into a first-team wing and an academy wing, which are joined by a narrow corridor. And, until Smith Rowe is given full senior status, he will continue to hang his coat alongside the rest of the kids.

“I am not actually in the changing room at the training ground,” he revealed after scoring his debut goal against Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday night. “I change separately, find out about 10 minutes before I am due to go out, and just run over and train.

“I am still waiting to be asked to move along the corridor. I know a couple of players have done it – like Alex Iwobi and Ainsley Maitlandniles – so hopefully I will soon.

“But when it comes to games, I look around and can’t believe I’m here. It is still surreal for me.” Arsenal’s 18-year-old is unlikely to feature at Fulham tomorrow as boss Unai Emery is determined to make sure he keeps his feet on the ground.

“It’s better to let him find his way with a humble spirit, working every day like he did in pre-season,” Emery said. “With Emile we have to be calm. He is a step further on his career but he is very young and he needs to earn those opportunities.”

But there is no doubt where his career is headed, especially with a little help from his friends.

Initially, it was Danny Welbeck and Alexandre Lacazette who made him feel most welcome when he first started playing with the first team on the tour of Singapore in the summer. Gradually, though, they have all had a quiet word.

“When I first started training with them, it was players like Welbeck and Lacazette but now they are all so welcoming,” Smith Rowe said.

“Everyone is helping me, everyone is giving me advice. I couldn’t really mention anyone in particular now because everyone has been so welcoming.

It is like a big family.

“Every player has told me

‘you’ve got so much ability, so much quality, so just keep working hard.’

“To hear that from world-class players – even Mesut Ozil has told me that, and Pierre-emerick Aubameyang too – is just unbelievable.”

Former Chelsea star Frank Lampard was Smith Rowe’s idol growing up and he still watches video clips of the England legend to try to mirror the timing of his late runs into the penalty area.

The in-form Gunners go Fulham tomorrow looking for a ninth consecutive win in all competitions, a run stretching back to to

August 25, but Emery is adamant nobody is counting. The Spaniard, who watched Gunners lose their opening two games of the season, insists he is still as thirsty for success in this game as he was for his first.

“Usually I don’t look back,” he said. “Every day I’m looking at the next matches. To look back to the last match is not good.

“For me my only focus is on Sunday against Fulham, to get three points to continue going up the table.”