Arsenal: Emile Smith Rowe the real superstar of young crop

Arsenal have a huge crop of young players coming through their youth ranks. But of all that could develop into stars, Emile Smith Rowe is the shining light, and he proved it on Thursday night.

You could make a very fair argument that this is the best crop of Arsenal youngsters that the club has had in the recent era. Even during the 22 years of Arsene Wenger reign when youth development was prioritised and there was a desperation of the club and fans to see young players pushed into the first team, there might never have been a crop as talented as this.

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Gabriel Martinelli is now a Premier League starter and the club’s second-highest scorer, Bukayo Saka is pushing a £72 million club-record signing for starting minutes, while also scoring tremendous goals in the Europa League, while Reiss Nelson and Joe Willock have started Premier League games this season and are hugely thought of by the club.

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And yet, if you had to push me on which of these is most likely to assume superstar status in four or five years time, fully reaching their potential and satisfying their talent, I would not name you any of the above, even though many others would. In fact, of the current crop of youngsters at the club, the one true world-class talent might well be the one that is spoken of the least, Emile Smith Rowe. And he proved it on Thursday.

Playing first on the right-wing of a front three and later in a central attacking midfield role in once Freddie Ljungberg switched to a back four, Smith Rowe was excellent. He enjoyed the positional freedom that Ljungberg wants him to play with, he dropped into pockets of space in between the lines, and he was integral to the many positive attacking moves the Gunners constructed in their 2-2-2 draw against Standard Liege.

By full-time, it was Saka who grabbed the headlines. He delivered a wicked cross to assist Alexandre Lacazette’s header before bending his own in from the edge of the area after a lovely one-two with another burgeoning starlet, Gabriel Martinelli.

But while Saka provided the inspirational moments that tend to draw people’s attention, not unjustifiably, it was Smith Rowe who put together the more complete performance. His passing was crisper, his positional intelligence and off-ball movement superb, and overall link-up play reminiscent of a player far beyond his teenage years.

Smith Rowe played with a nous and understanding that belies his youth. And it is this natural understanding, awareness and recognition that, I believe, sets him up for such a bright future. You can have all the physical and technical talent in the world, but if your decision-making is poor and your positioning lacks awareness and anticipation, you will not have an impact on matches.

Mentally, Smith Rowe is miles ahead of his peers. He proved it on Thursday night. It is what sets him up for a wonderful career ahead. He just needs one thing: to stay fit.