"He is a player that I really liked since the first day I watched him. Just the way he moves, how intelligent he is with the positions he takes and his work rate – don't underestimate that," Mikel Arteta said of Emile Smith Rowe, as cited by the Sports Mole.
"He works really hard for the team and he had a really bad injury this year and hasn't really trained with us at all.
"For the last two weeks he has been much more involved and you can see what he can bring to the team. I am delighted to have a young player with his talent and in that position. It was something that we needed."
Emile missed the beginning of the season with a shoulder injury. Interestingly, the medical team cleared him to play in early October and Arteta himself brought him in as a late substitution in the November game against Dundalk. Maybe Smith Rowe had a setback with his injury but it was not reported in Arsenal's injury updates.
The most important thing is that ESR is fit now, and has quickly become a crucial player since making his first Premier League appearance this season against Chelsea.
Emile assisted Saka as he scored his wonder goal and his constant movement smart passes helped the Gunners break down the opposition's defence, bringing back the creativity Arsenal had so badly lacked.
