Emile Smith Rowe is the creative player Arsenal have needed this season.
That is the view of former Gunners defender Alex Scott who delivered her verdict on the 20-year-old following his first Premier League start of the season in the 3-1 win over Chelsea on Boxing Day.
Smith Rowe was somewhat of a surprise name in the Arsenal starting lineup as he benefited from Willian's absence to get his chance in the no.10 role behind Alexandre Lacazette.
Despite not getting on the scoresheet, he did provide the assist for Bukayo Saka's goal and the playmaker caught the eye of the Sky Sports pundit.
So much so that Scott believes Smith Rowe deserves to keep his place in the team for the Gunners' next game against Brighton and Hove Albion on Tuesday.
Furthermore, the ex-defender name-dropped three other Arsenal players she feels manager Mikel Arteta can build his team around.
"I think they deserve to keep their place going forward," Scott said on Sky Sports. "You have to earn your right to play.
"Every single one of the youngsters I was looking at their age.
"Smith Rowe, I think Arsenal have been crying out all season for a creative player and he showed he deserved his place today.
"At 20 he has come through the ranks.
"They've got [Reiss] Nelson, [Bukayo] Saka who was outstanding.
"And I think in Kieran Tierney, they have brought in a player for £25m. An absolute bargain.
"This bunch of players is what you need to build on with Arsenal going forward."
Scott's comments would suggest that Arteta has discovered his latest Arsenal undroppable following the win over the Blues.
Saka has already nailed down a place in the Gunners XI, and it remains to be seen if Smith Rowe can do the same.
Next up for the Gunners is back-to-back away games against teams around them in the bottom half of the table. Following the trip to Brighton, they begin 2021 against West Brom.
