Arsenal starlet Emile Smith Rowe has expressed his pride at making the breakthrough at his boyhood club, while outlining his plans for the remainder of the season.
The 20-year-old has excelled in the first-team frame this season since earning opportunities under Mikel Arteta, establishing himself as an important member of the attack and crafting an excellent relationship with the likes of Bukayo Saka.
That has seen the Hale End graduate quickly establish himself as a firm favourite among the supporters, with many clamouring for him to take the number 10 shirt in the summer after it was made vacant by Mesut Ozil's departure.
For Smith Rowe though, he is taking it one game at a time and is aiming to keep making Arteta happy - and he's confident the squad is moving in the right direction.
"I can't really described the feeling to be honest. Being an Arsenal fan from such a young age, getting an opportunity to put on the Arsenal shirt and step onto the pitch, there's really no better feeling for me," he told the club's YouTube channel.
"I've been at the club from a young age, watching the first-team, seeing magical goals and the link-up combination, I've always wanted to be a part of it. Growing up, I've always tried to do it in training and in matches as I was going through the academy."
Arsenal have been linked with a summer transfer for Jack Grealish, but Emile Smith Rowe can save the club millions by slotting into that number ten role permanently and he even has a Grealish-like superstition.
He added: "I try to be free in my mind. There's one thing I do, wearing my socks really low, I feel like that gives me freedom. I don't know why, it's just a little superstition.
"We've all just been clicking together, I feel like we've come together so much stronger and we're really moving forward as a team. It's not just the players who start, it's the players that come on, doing a job for the team, and if we keep doing this, keep believing, we'll go and carry on winning games.
"This season, I'm getting a run of games. I need to keep working hard, keep training hard and listening to the manager. For me, it's just about progression. The main thing is winning for the team but for me, I just want to keep making the manager happy."
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