Alan Shearer agrees with Jamie Carragher on Emile Smith Rowe's Arsenal impact
Emile Smith Rowe was a starring performer for Arsenal as they defeated Newcastle United in the Premier League.
JoriPress
The Premier League's all-time leading scorer Alan Shearer has hailed Emile Smith Rowe following his starring performance against Newcastle United.
The 20-year-old has grabbed his opportunity with both hands in recent weeks, scoring against the Magpies in the FA Cup third round and then excelling in the Premier League clash on Monday night as the Gunners won 3-0.
That has provided Mikel Arteta with a significant boost for the second-half of the season, with the youngster showing the creative influences that Arsenal have been lacking this season with three assists in five league starts.
Mesut Ozil's exile since March and impending departure to Fenerbahce has left a void in Arteta's squad for a pure playmaker and Shearer believes the future is bright for the latest Hale End academy graduate.
“This guy [Smith Rowe] is a breath of fresh air. His attitude. The way he approaches the game. The way he wants to work. His ability with and without the ball,” Shearer told Premier League productions.
“So, I think it’s been a huge step forward for not only him. But it’s no coincidence that Arsenal’s form is where it is when he has been in the team.”
Shearer's comments are similar to the praise that Smith Rowe received from former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who believes the Gunners have a wealth of exciting young players on their books.
“I just think over the last few weeks, I’ve been critical on this show about some of Arsenal’s older players and that’s why I was hoping for some young blood," Carragher told Sky Sports on Monday.
"It’s not just him, Martinelli has been there before, Saka as well, Willock who is on the bench tonight. They’ve got some really good young players there."
