Who is Emile Smith Rowe? Arsenal wonderkid profiled after being promoted to first team training by Unai Emery
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Unai Emery is taking charge of Arsenal training this week as he looks to take the Gunners back into the Champions League.
New boy Sokratis Papastathopoulos has been at London Colney this week alongside his new teammates that were not involved in the World Cup.
But there was another new boy in action, youngster Emile Smith Rowe.
The teenager has been promoted to first-team training by Emery and will hope to catch the eye during pre-season.
Our colleagues at Football.London have taken a look at Smith Rowe and what he could bring to the Emirates.
(Image: Getty)
(Image: Arsenal FC)
Background
Smith Rowe has been capped by England at U16, U17 & U18 level whilst progressing through the ranks at Arsenal’s Hale End academy.
He had a trial at Chelsea aged nine before signing for Arsenal shortly afterwards.
Furthermore, he once rejected offers from Tottenham Hotspur as well as La Liga giants Barcelona in order to stay with the Gunners - endearing him to supporters along the way.
(Image: Getty)
Position
Usually Smith Rowe is stationed on the left wing, but during the Gunners' run to the FA Youth Cup final last season he showed his versatility by operating from a more central role.
A good passer of the ball as well as being a very direct player, the 17-year-old could slot into any of the three roles behind the main striker if Emery wants to use a 4-2-3-1 formation next season.
Quick, skilful, has a knack for getting into good goalscoring positions and a creator of numerous opportunities for his team-mates, Smith Rowe scored 13 goals and weighed in with four assists at youth level last season.
(Image: Arsenal FC)
Standout performance
Well, there's been a few. The FA Youth Cup semi-final second leg against Blackpool immediately springs to mind as that was the game in which he was the best player on the park - and the young Gunners were very good that night.
The sensational individual run he set off on to win the penalty during the 5-0 win was easily the highlight of the game.
Then there's the quarter-final win over Colchester where he netted a fabulous free-kick as well as the 6-1 thrashing of West Ham United U18's where he scored a hat-trick.
First-team chances
(Image: Getty)
Smith Rowe trained with the first-team last season and has been tipped by Jack Wilshere to make an impact in the future.
"He's been great throughout the cup run," Wilshere told Arsenal's website after the FA Youth Cup final loss against Chelsea.
"When he has stepped up to [train] with the first team, he hasn't looked out of place and that's a sign of someone who has a real opportunity of not just making a career, but playing at this club, which I know is difficult.
"You can see over the years the good players that haven't quite made it, but he has got something a little bit special, and he has a real chance.
(Image: Arsenal FC)
(Image: Arsenal FC)
Targets for 2018/19
Arsenal do have a host of attacking midfielders at present, Henrikh Mkhitaryan only arrived from Manchester United a few months ago and is expected to play a huge role next season.
Then there's Mesut Ozil and Alex Iwobi, while the Gunners are said to be on the market for a new winger in the transfer window.
That could limit first-team chances for Smith Rowe, although the aim should be to make his senior debut next season and he could receive some opportunities in the Carabao Cup and it's important he continues to perform at U23 and U18's level.