I’M A WORK OF ART
Smith Rowe thanks boss for his creativity
EMILE SMITH ROWE has hailed the role of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta in his goal-scoring form – and has targeted an England senior call-up.
The 21-year-old has scored three goals in his past five games for club and country, including the winner against Andorra for England Under21s on Monday.
Smith Rowe is loving the confidence and responsibility Gunners’ boss Arteta is giving him, and the extra finishing sessions.
He said: “The coaches at Arsenal have been helping me so much. That is really important for my game, creating and scoring. I have been working on it and I want to push forward.
“He [Arteta] has given us so much confidence to stay calm. We know we’re going to be getting into these positions. We’ve got to stay as calm as possible and just focus on the goal really.
“We’ve been practising a lot in training, and after training, and we get the support from the experienced players in the team as well, they’re always helping us.”
On the praise he has been getting, Smith Rowe said: “I try not to think about it too much. Being a young player at Arsenal I am really happy playing. I never feel pressure. I just try to be confident in myself and I have the players and the support around me.”
But he is ambitious and keen to one day become a full international. England boss Gareth Southgate has sung his praises recently and the player added: “I feel grateful he is speaking about me like that in a positive way.
“I have to work hard and keep my head down and I know the opportunity will come and I will be ready.
“It is always an honour to represent my country whatever level it is. The seniors have a really strong team so I know that it is going to be difficult. I’ve just got to keep my head down and stay focused and keep doing what I am doing and hopefully I’ll get that opportunity in the future.”
Team-mate Bukayo Saka, 20, is in the senior squad and Smith Rowe added: “I am so proud of Bukayo, he is playing really well for Arsenal and England. As a team we look up to him.We are close.
“We are really coming together at Arsenal, it is like a family and that has helped us off the pitch. The manager helps us every day and we have to work hard and get good results.”