Arsenal’s 18-year-old wonderkid Emile Smith Rowe says he is “living the dream” after scoring his first senior goal in the club’s 3-0 win over FC Qarabag.
The England U17 World Cup winner scored a superb goal during Arsenal’s pre-season tour in Singapore against Atletico Madrid but even that couldn’t compare to the rapturous cauldron in Baku, Azerbaijan, some 5000 miles from his childhood home in Thornton Heath.
“I feel delighted,” he said. “I scored in pre-season but last night it felt so different and I am just so happy.
“I am really enjoying it. I was enjoying it before but I am getting chances and I am so grateful that the gaffer has got faith in me. I just want to keep improving and keep getting minutes.
Smith Rowe dismissed the possibility of a loan move even before the pre-season campaign began and was determined to hold down a spot in the first team squad to learn under the new manager and Arsenal's senior players.
“Unai has been a real big help to me personally because he is always talking to me after training. And as a team, he is always telling us, having a lot of meetings after training and even before matches. I think it’s really good for the team.
“[Fighting for a place] was a chance I took and I am happy I have taken it because now he is really happy with me, he helps me a lot and to get the chances I am getting now is crazy. There’s no other place I’d rather be.
“Every player has told me you’ve got so much ability, so much quality just keep focused and keep working hard. To get that off world class players – even Mesut Ozil has told me that before and Aubameyang as well – is just unbelievable.
