Arsenal: Emile Smith Rowe adding deadly new trait

Before the season began the additional responsibility placed on Emile Smith Rowe was clear. For all the brilliance he’d demonstrated at Arsenal, he had to start adding goals to his game.

This wasn’t just because he assumed the No. 10 shirt, although this is part and parcel of donning that jersey, but more down to his regular inclusion as a forward player in the team.

An Arsenal side struggling to score had to ask more of the attacking players, especially those whose spot in the team was near enough assured each week. Smith Rowe is not only beginning to do so, he’s doing so with his own panache.

Making his full England debut in the 10-0 hammering of San Marino on Monday, a fixture where the visitors utterly outclassed a nation with a population nearly half that of the capacity of the Emirates Stadium, he had a glorious opportunity to net his first senior Three Lions goal.

The confident finishing Emile Smith Rowe is demonstrating for Arsenal and now England is a deadly trait that is taking his game to a new level

That he did, taking his tally for the season to seven in for club and country – having scored for the Under-21 side during the previous break – while also notching an assist on the night.

Mikel Arteta set some lofty targets for the Hale Ender back in May when he grabbed his first Premier League goal, numbers Smith Rowe is rather rapidly edging nearer.

"“An incredible season for a No 10 of Arsenal means he needs to score 15 goals and give 10 assists,” he said.“Then you are right up there with the top guys in Europe and in the league. He’s got the ability to do it, but he hasn’t done it.”"

While there is still some way to go, and a drop off is expected at some stage, the manner of the goals Smith Rowe is scoring will fill the manager with confidence that he can be meeting such demands.

Most notable in his recent strikes is the confidence with which he’s finishing.

These aren’t shots he’s leathered at goal hoping that power will reign supreme. These are confident strokes of the ball with clean connections where he has an area of the goal already mapped out.

Against Leicester, while it wasn’t the hardest goal he’ll score, he didn’t rush the chance presented to him as he opened his body up and placed it beyond Kasper Schmeichel with his instep. There was power behind it, but it was a measured strike.

Following that up with another controlled effort against Watford, where he once again struck the ball true with his foot wrapped around it, the confidence he has in his own ability to direct the ball at his desired location was on show, again, against San Marino.

A similar technique where he doesn’t put his laces through it, he uses his instep and transmits enough power in his leg to beat the keeper. This sort of finish is becoming a trend. And what helps him use such a technique is the well-timed runs he makes coming in off the left when the ball is wide right.

It’s a type of finish he’s mastering. Arteta spoke previously about Smith Rowe needing to realise ‘how good he is’, and the self-belief is coursing through his veins with the expertise in which he’s taking his goals.

It’s one thing making those ‘Ramsey-esque’ late penalty box runs. It’s another following them up accomplished strikes of the ball where you know it’s in the back of the net before you’ve even struck it.

This is another deadly string to his increasingly lethal bow.