Arsenal: 4 positives from crushing Brentford defeat

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Brentford and Arsenal at Brentford Community Stadium in London on August 13, 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 Adrian DENNIS / 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 ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

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Arsenal’s English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe runs with the ball during the English Premier League football match between Brentford and Arsenal. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. Emile Smith Rowe Has Matured – And is Still Class

The plan this summer was to build around the likes of Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Kieran Tierney. They’re still stood in an empty room. There are no walls, a half-built floor and rain is dripping through the hastily applied tarpaulin.

At least those three are still very, very good footballers. And they’re only getting better.

Smith Rowe was the standout performer alongside the Scot on the night and with the rest of the team faltering and struggling to impose themselves on proceedings, it was the former doing his upmost to kick Arsenal into life.

Donning the No. 10 for the first time in the division, it may have just been the number, or that everyone else looked so inadequate alongside him, but there was a real sense of maturity from the 20-year-old.

Arteta will have already spoken to him of his importance to the team, but it was the manner with which he conducted himself – as he has done throughout his time in the side – that had an air of leadership to it. It’s remarkable (frightening) to have someone of his age be this vital to the team.

Looking across those on the pitch, you’d have easily mistaken him for being 28 years old with nine seasons of Premier League football under his belt. This is very much his team now, and he showed it.

This is going to be a huge season for Smith Rowe.

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