Mikel Arteta (Image: Sky Sports)
Smith Emile In Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Luton, Rowe was one of the teamsheet’s unexpected names. Mikel Arteta was impressed with Rowe’s performance.
Emile Smith Rowe’s outstanding performance in Arsenal’s convincing victory over Luton was praised by Mikel Arteta.
With Arteta choosing to rotate, the Gunners academy graduate was given a rare start against the Hatters. This season, Smith Rowe has made just 16 appearances overall, with this being his third Premier League start.
There were no rust marks on him. The 23-year-old was named man of the match after contributing significantly to both of Arsenal’s goals.
After the match, Arteta was all smiles as she praised the playmaker. “I think a lot,” he added. He’s a player that I adore. Observing him move and how he alters his physical appearance today is delightful. It’s fun to watch him. He was a big help to us today in winning the game.
The Spaniard went on, “I found him to be really impressive. We thought the game would work for us because he has been training so well. Extremely happy for the boys that visited. It’s a busy month; after the international break, we got off to a strong start again, and Brighton is up next.”
After a protracted absence from the team, Smith Rowe was thrilled with his contributions elsewhere. The midfielder said, “I’ve really enjoyed myself tonight,” in an interview with TNT Sport.
It’s been a while since I first started. For me, this season has been difficult. The three points and the start both excite me.
Emile Smith Rowe shone against Luton ( Image: Getty Images)
Smith Rowe wasn’t the only unexpected player on the Gunners’ roster. Reiss Nelson, a fellow academy graduate, was also added, and Thomas Partey received a unique start.
Arteta gave the following explanation for his decision to rotate his team: “We managed to freshen the team up a bit. Those who attended performed incredibly well.
“We won with two excellent goals, and we also had another clean sheet. We play again in a few days. Credit to Luton for being a really good team and tough opponent in the second half.
“They must play in order to have a squad. Those are the decisions we must make. They provided a very good contribution to the team. We now get better and head out again because Brighton is away.”
Arsenal is now atop the Premier League, if only for the next 24 hours, after their victory over Luton. Sheffield United and Liverpool, the Gunners’ title rivals, play on Thursday night at Anfield.
This weekend, when they play Brighton, Arteta’s team hopes to win two straight. They then play the first leg of their quarterfinal Champions League matchup against German powerhouse Bayern Munich.
