Speaking on the Wrighty’s House Podcast, Ian Wright has shared what he’s told Emile Smith Rowe to do at Arsenal amid rumours that Martin Odegaard was close to joining the club on loan.
Odegaard has now signed for Arsenal, but Wright’s advice should still hit home for the youngster.
The ex-Gunners striker has said told Smith Rowe that he should play every game as if Arsenal are lining up to replace him, claiming that this will give him the drive to be better in training and on the pitch.
Wright was speaking about the effect signing Odegaard may have on Smith Rowe:
“With Odegaard, he’s what we need, we need a guy to back up Emile Smith Rowe, but I’m hoping that it doesn’t make Emile think ‘oh no, I’m just getting my motor revved up and this is happening.
“You have to in your mind think that the club is getting ready to replace you, I sent him a message saying that. I said even all through those times, that barren spell with Arsenal where we weren’t winning leagues, but we were winning cups, like the Cup Winners’ Cup and the FA Cup.
“I played every week like Arsenal are going to bring someone in I played like that because you have to play like that, you have to play knowing that someone better is going to be coming, because if that isn’t going to drive you in training to be better, then that’s going to come and that person will take your place.”
If there’s anyone you want to be taking advice from as an Arsenal player it’s Ian Wright.
Smith Rowe is lucky to have such a legend looking out for him like this, and if he takes this advice on board, there’s no reason why he can’t keep Odegaard out of the team.
This may be the perfect example of healthy competition at Arsenal, and we can only hope that these two push each other to be the best they can be.
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