Ex-Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has been impressed with the form of young midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe this season. Newly capped England international Smith-Rowe has been one of the best attacking players in the Arsenal team this season.
Bacary Sagna talked about the quality that Smith-Rowe has shown this season in a chat with freebets. According to the Frenchman, he had a big doubt about the young player when he demanded for the number 10 shirt previously worn by prominent football figures such as Dennis Bergkamp, Robin Van Persie, Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere.
Smith-Rowe asked for the said jersey number when he penned a long-term deal with the Gunners in the summer thereby committing his future to the club. Bacary Sagna admitted that he was wrong about Smith-Rowe and that the England player has been able to handle the pressure of the jersey number well to emerge as the joint topscorer for Arsenal in the Premier League.
Arsenal midfielder Smith-Rowe was recently given his international bow after England manager Gareth Southgate promoted him from the Under-21s. Smith-Rowe joined up with the senior team after players like Jack Grealish, Mason Mount, Marcus Rashford and James Ward-Prowse withdrew from the senior team for various reasons.
Smith-Rowe made his debut during the Albania game at home in the World Cup 2022 qualifiers coming in as a substitute for Manchester City star Raheem Sterling in the second half. He made his full debut in the next World Cup qualifier at San Marino and the young Arsenal star was able to score a goal and provide an assist during the game.
Arsenal midfielder Smith-Rowe is the second highest goalscorer at the club this season with five goals behind club skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who has seven goals in all competitions. Aubameyang and Smith-Rowe are the joint topscorer in the league with four goals.