It’s been a wrank season for Arsenal but two of their shining lights, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, combined tonight to remind the Gunners fans that at least some positives have come from this campaign.
Arsenal beat West Bromwich Albion 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium to move ninth in the Premier League table and consign the Baggies to relegation to the Championship.
Smith Rowe got the scoring underway, demonstrating his brilliant technique by lashing home a volley from a brilliant Saka cross.
The Gunners’ duo came straight from the academy and their form this season has been bright parts of an otherwise dismal year under Mikel Arteta, whose side were knocked out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage as recently as Thursday.
Smith Rowe has been an ever-present figure in Arsenal’s first XI since the turn of the year and suffice to say that fans of the North London club are huge admirers of the 20-year-old.
He also has a fan in the form of the club’s former defender Lee Dixon, who revealed that his son – Joshua, a Strength & Conditioning Coach who has worked in the England set-up – has gave him glowing reviews about Smith Rowe.
He said to NBC Sport: “He’s been a shining light this season. He’s a player. My son knows him through the England set-up. Really humble boy, wants to win, wants to learn – hungry.”
This was Smith Rowe’s first Premier League goal for the North Londoners but going by his form over the past few months, there’ll be plenty more to come over the coming years.
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