Football
Mattias Karen, Arsenal correspondent 5y

Arsenal's Unai Emery wants Emile Smith Rowe 'humble' after first goal

Arsenal coach Unai Emery called on teenager Emile Smith Rowe to stay "humble" after the midfielder netted his first goal for the Gunners in their 3-0 win over Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday.

Smith Rowe made it 2-0 with a composed finish in the second half after being teed up by fellow Hale End academy graduate Alex Iwobi in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The goal punctuated an impressive display by the 18-year-old on his first start in the competition -- and only second overall for the club. Smith Rowe is seen as one of the biggest talents to emerge from the Arsenal academy since Jack Wilshere, but Emery wants to make sure he doesn't get carried away after Thursday's success.

"He has a little bit of all the qualities [Wilshere] has: physical, mentality and quality with his right foot," Emery said. "If I can say one condition, for me, it's his mentality. He is humble and listens every day in training, in the video analysis and also before the match to continue improving and to keep taking one step more, like today. ... I think this is one step more for him.

"I prefer to not speak a lot about him because I think it's best for him to continue to be humble and continue working in every match to keep his feet on the ground."

Centre-back Sokratis Papastatholopolous and midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, another teenager, also scored their first Arsenal goals in the win.

Sokratis steered Nacho Monreal's header into the net for an early lead and Guendouzi finished off the win with a low strike inside the far post as Arsenal earned their eighth straight win in all competitions.

Smith Rowe was the only current academy player in the squad as Emery once again used a strong team in the competition, with Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Lucas Torreira all coming off the bench.

However, youngsters Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock and goalkeeper Deyan Iliev also made the long trip to Baku and Emery said he wants the up-and-coming players to feel like they are part of the team.

"I think that every player needs to feel that we have the option to give them chances and an opportunity to play with us," Emery said. "Above all, the players with us, they are coming from the academy and today they are here.

"Deyan Iliev is here also, Eddie Nketiah is here also, and also is Joe Willock. We want to give them [opportunities] but also they earned their moments in the pitch because, in preseason for example, Emile Smith Rowe worked very well with us. He knows how we want to play and he is very humble to continue improving and progressing with us."

^ Back to Top ^