Arsenal starlet aiming for Premier League debut after superb Europa League outing
Arsenal starlet Emile Smith Rowe is prepared to invest every ounce of his youthful enthusiasm and endeavour on a daily basis in order to persuade Unai Emery to hand him a desired Premier League debut.
Emery drafted the 18-year-old into his Europa League starting XI that faced Qarabag on Thursday, and the flourishing academy graduate duly repaid the Spaniard’s faith by clinically netting his first senior goal for the Gunners during the 3-0 victory in Baku.
The newly instated England U19 international was a fluent threat against the Azerbaijani outfit and stretched the encounter in the final third to the north-Londoners’ devastating advantage.
Smith Rowe could have temporarily departed the Emirates during the summer, although as he’s raised eyebrows and dropped jaws on his sporadic outings this term under the former Paris Saint-Germain manager’s command, the inspired teenager is ultimately raring to showcase his credentials in the English top-flight.
“It was a chance I took [not to leave] and I am happy I have taken it because now he [Emery] is really happy with me, he helps me a lot and to get the chances I am getting now is crazy.” He said to the media (via Goal).
“I think he is a great manager. There’s no other place I’d rather be.
“I haven’t really set targets. For me, it is just training every day, working hard and, if I get my chance in the Premier League one day, that would be unbelievable. At the moment, I am just trying to make my way with games in the cups. Hopefully, one day, I can make my Premier League debut.”
Smith Rowe’s career ambitions evidently don’t rest at club level, though, as he’s also hungry to eventually emulate the likes of Jadon Sancho and Mason Mount, who have both been called-up to Gareth Southgate’s senior England fold.
“It is a great achievement for those two,” he proceeded.
“It is definitely something I am trying to do in the future and England is a great way to express your ability. They definitely try to give youngsters a chance.
“The England youngsters are a very talented bunch and I think in the future there will be a lot of them going through to the first team.
“Hopefully, one day, I can be part of the team. [Emery] told me to get into the box more and in training I am trying to work on my finishing, working hard.
“[Frank] Lampard scored a lot of goals, so I’m watching his clips, I like watching clips of a lot of players. So, when I am just chilling at home, I watch clips of players.”
