Arsenal 4-1 Watford: 4 talking points from pre-season win

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Arsenal at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on April 11, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Tim Keeton / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by TIM KEETON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – JULY 13: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal during the Pre-Season Friendly between Hibernian and Arsenal at Easter Road on July 13, 2021 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images) /

2. Chance Creation Changes With Special Emile Smith Rowe

Despite utterly dominating the second half, the second goal came via a penalty and not much else went down as a clear chance until the third.

Put Emile Smith Rowe on the ball, however, and things change. Seeing Willian in the No. 10 role and trying his very best to make himself available to either winger didn’t pay off at all in the first half, and while he improved after the break, it was Smith Rowe’s introduction that changed the threat.

He immediately lifts the technical level on the pitch. Supporters saw how brilliant he was last season and the improvements from week to week, setting him up for a season in which he will explode.

It’s impossible to see him not owning that No. 10 shirt in the coming campaign so long as he stays fit. Such is his trajectory and his sky-high ceiling, the confidence the 21-year-old has (happy birthday!) transfers into all those across the pitch.

The tempo lifts and the movements of those around him become more fluid. Watford are facing a tough season ahead having just been promoted and it wasn’t their strongest side yet there is no doubting how special of a talent he is.

Smith Rowe will be spoken of in glowing terms by those across the division. In the same vein as it took until the Euros for other supporters to realise who glorious Bukayo Saka is, ‘The Smith’ will blow spectators away.

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