The best of the Emile Smith Rowe & Bukayo Saka connection at Arsenal

Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe had the world at their feet when they first entered through the doors of Hale End at the tender age of seven and ten respectively.

While Mikel Arteta's job was under scrutiny at the beginning of his tenure in north London, the London-born duo were called upon countless times to keep their manager in the role.

But as time progressed, and the team's competitiveness reached it's peak under the Spaniard's stewardship, the pair were forced apart as Smith Rowe found difficulty in returning to the starting lineup after injury complications.

As Arsenal aim to compete for the Premier League title for the third consecutive year, the attacking midfielder is set to bid a regretful farewell to the home which he could see himself spending the rest of his career in.

With the 23-year-old close to making a move across London to join Fulham in a £35m deal, let's take a look at every goal which came from Hale End's finest duo combining.

1. Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea (26th December 2020)

Watch the goal from 0:49

It's Boxing Day, and fans donning red and white all over the globe are hoping to continue the festive cheers during a tough clash against London rivals, Chelsea. Although a victory would only see the Gunners climb to a staggering 14th, Arsenal were winless since 1 November, with Arteta's job in serious jeopardy.

With the Gunners having already doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time, Saka and Smith Rowe all but guaranteed that the three points would stay in north London with their combination play.

To kickstart their account together in fine style, a simple layoff from his English counterpart found Saka at an angle he had no right to shoot from, but the 'starboy' made no mistake in audaciously chipping Edouard Mendy in a ridiculous effort.

Little did the pair know that they had played a part in the match which would see Arteta retain his job in north London, and begin an extraordinary turnaround under the 42-year-old.

2. West Brom 0-4 Arsenal (2nd January 2021)

Watch the goal from 0:26

Just days after their 3-1 victory over Frank Lampard's Blues, the companions linked up once again. Despite the duo being unable to attest that they could do it in a windy night in Stoke, a snowy night in West Bromwich is arguably the next best gasconade.

Stemming from the left flank once again, the former number 32 was freakishly able to find Saka without even a quick glance. The Arsenal star then found Alexandre Lacazette, who facilitated Smith Rowe's lethal overlap, before the youngster squared the ball to gift the right-winger his 22nd goal involvement of the season.

3. Arsenal 3-0 Newcastle United (18th January 2021)

Watch the goal from 0:58

As the Gunners prepared to face a struggling Newcastle United side, Hale End's finest duo were in impressive form. With Saka being just two goals away from obtaining the third most goal involvements from an Arsenal teenager in a Premier League season, his young counterpart was leading the charts at The Emirates for the most assists in the campaign.

Smith Rowe found himself on the left flank on this occasion, and his impressive ball carrying proved why Jamie Carragher later labelled the man he "loves" as "the best player I’ve seen in the Premier League running with the ball."

Despite receiving the ball deep in the opposition's half, the 'Croydon De Bruyne' took mere seconds to enter the box and beat Jamaal Lascelles in a take-on. Making life easy for his fellow attacker once again, a weighted squared ball saw Saka easily convert from just under 12 yards out.

4. Arsenal 3-1 West Brom (9th May 2021)

Watch the goal from 0:00

After a disappointing midweek European exit, The Baggies found themselves the only side to fall victim to conceding a goal due to the Hale End duo's linkup on more than one occasion.

Despite initially holding the ball on the touchline, Smith Rowe released the ball inwards to Dani Ceballos. The loaned Spaniard quickly found Willian, who fed through Saka and sent him sprinting towards the goal line.

In this time, the versatile attacker had cleverly made his way into the box without attracting any defenders in yellow and green, and a first-time cross delivered by the Euro 2024 star was met sweetly on Smith Rowe's weak foot.

5. Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur (26th September 2021)

Watch the goal from 0:00

26 September 2021 was nothing short of a fairytale for everyone supporting the home side at the Emirates. Two local lads and academy graduates in Saka and Smith Rowe played a part in all three goals as the Gunners ran rampant against their neighbours in white.

As Arsenal's 'starboy' effortlessly took on Sergio Reguilón with a clever bit of trickery, the ball was fed into the centre of the box. Arsenal's new number ten's fight and desire saw him beat veteran, Davinson Sánchez, to the ball, who left Hugo Lloris with no chance.

To say The Emirates erupted would be an understatement, and it would be shocking if a pedestrian on the other side of London didn't feel the ground shake beneath them due to the euphoria unfolding in N5.

Despite believing that he could wear the Arsenal badge for the rest of his career, this was by far Smith Rowe's best moment in all 14 years of donning the red and white strip, in what he labelled as, "the best day of my life!"

6. Arsenal 2-0 West Ham (15th December 2021)

Watch the goal from 2:31

In what is most likely the pair's final ever goal resulting linkup, Smith Rowe hit his best strike on the list afte the ball was presented to him by his right-winger.

With West Ham still having a foothold in the fixture, Mr. Reliable ensured the Gunners landed in a UEFA Champions League position at full-time.

As the game drew to a close, Arsenal aimed to hit West Ham on a counter-attack, as Saka found Smith Rowe ahead of him. With his socks cut low, and his hair modestly swept to one side, the midfielder was fearless in challenging Issa Diop, who was left retreating.

The fan favourite then cut onto his weak foot and fired it past former Gunner, Lukasz Fabianski, without even giving the helpless Pole between the sticks a moment to dive to one side.

Although he thought he could represent the weight of the crest until he hung his boots up, Smith Rowe has been a model servant for the club in the fourteen years he's donned red and white.

From the most important of goals, the way he carried the ball, his low cut socks, and the memories he gifted Gooners both on and off the pitch, he will always be missed.

Thank you, Emile. You are welcome back anytime, and we will always support you, wherever you go.

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