Emile Smith Rowe could haunt his former boss when Arsenal face Manchester United next Thursday, with Ralf Rangnick expected to take the reins at United.
The Englishman spent six months on loan at RB Leipzig during the 2018/2019 season, having been brought to the club by Rangnick.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's sacking saw a whole host of names linked with the Old Trafford hot seat, though it seems Rangnick is now destined to take charge on an interim basis before taking up a consultancy role at the end of the season.
His first game as United manager is expected to be against Arsenal, and he'll no doubt be dreading his reunion with Smith Rowe given the youngster's sensational form early on this season.
The 21-year-old's injury-plagued spell with RB Leipzig meant he only made three appearances under Rangnick. However, he has been a revelation since returning to Arsenal and breaking into Mikel Arteta’s starting XI.
His impressive breakthrough season saw him grab six league goal contributions - two goals and four assists - before being rewarded with a new deal and, perhaps even more significantly, Arsenal's prestigious number 10 shirt.
And he's continued that amazing form into this season, having already notched the same number of goal contributions in the Premier League as he did over the entire 2020/21 campaign.
Smith Rowe has been a crucial part of Arsenal’s surprisingly successful campaign, becoming just the fourth Arsenal player under the age of 21 to score in three consecutive Premier League games, the previous three being Nicolas Anelka, Jose Antonio Reyes and Cesc Fabregas - not bad company to keep.
With United yet to keep a clean sheet at home in the Premier League this season, Smith Rowe will be looking to continue his excellent form in front of goal.
Arteta used Smith Rowe as a left winger in the North London derby against Tottenham, and since then he's been one of the first names on the team sheet.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is United’s first-choice right-back and, despite his excellent recovery tackling ability, Smith Rowe can take advantage of the defender’s lack of positional awareness as the Gunners looks to take all three points from their trip to Old Trafford.
If any player is going to spoil Rangnick’s Manchester United debut, you'd be brave to bet against it being his former signing Smith Rowe.
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