Emile Smith Rowe will ‘go very far’ in the game, according to his Arsenal teammate Kieran Tierney.
The Hale End academy graduate has seized his opportunity this season after he was thrust into the starting XI back in December.
Filling the role vacated by Mesut Ozil following his exile, the 20-year-old impressed on his full Premier League debut against on Boxing Day and has hardly looked back since.
After earning his first call-up to the England Under-21 squad, Smith Rowe capped a fine week by playing a key role in his side’s north London derby win over Tottenham.
Asked to play in a wider role as a consequence of January loan recruit Martin Odegaard’s inclusion, Smith Rowe gave an outstanding display as he, in tandem with Tierney, caused Spurs’ Matt Doherty no end of problems.
Asked about his combination with Smith Rowe, Tierney said: ‘I think he’s amazing, what a player honestly. I think you could see how much I enjoyed to play with him as well the other day.
‘I linked up well with him I thought there was a good understanding and off the pitch as well he’s a great guy, a humble guy and he will go very far.’
Arsenal face Olympiacos on Thursday evening in their Europa League round of the last 16 second leg tie in a commanding position having won 3-1 away from home last week.
Speaking on the prospect of resting players like Smith Rowe, who have featured prominently in recent weeks, Arteta said: ‘It’s true that we have some players with some significant loads there, but our priority now is to win these next two games and then whatever happens with international duty.
‘If anything, they will have to adapt to what we want. We’re not going to do it the opposite way around because we are the ones that have to look after our players here every day. But at the end, we’re the ones who pay our players so if anybody has to adapt, that’s the national teams and not us.’
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