Rio Ferdinand has said on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE that he was worried about Emile Smith Rowe when Arsenal signed Martin Odegaard.
The former Manchester United defender has suggested that he was worried that Smith Rowe would struggle for playing time when Arsenal decided to bring in Odegaard from Real Madrid in the January transfer window.
The 22-year-old Norway international attacking midfielder moved to the Gunners on loan from Spanish and European giants Madrid.
Ferdinand said about Smith Rowe on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE: “I love him. I love the way he plays. I was worried actually when Odegaard came in. Would the manager play him in the same team?
“But he has come in, man, and the way he has played this season, he has got a, sometimes he has got a cheekiness about the way he plays, the way he lends the ball about.”
Big player for Arsenal
Smith Rowe had started to establish himself in the Arsenal first team before January and was looking like a suitable successor to Mesut Ozil.
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder is a big player for the Gunners now, and he is actually playing with Odegaard in the team, like he did against Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby at the weekend.
One can understand why Ferdinand was worried. After all, Smith Rowe is only 20, while Odegaard, although 22, was coming from Madrid and with a big reputation.
According to WhoScored, Smith Rowe has provided four assists in 13 Premier League matches and has scored one goal and provided two assists in five Europa League games for Arsenal so far this season.
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