Rio Ferdinand has insisted Arsenal cannot afford to lose the "sublime" duo of Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka following their latest display versus Tottenham.
The Hale End academy graduates both scored in the Gunners' impressive victory against Spurs in the first North London Derby of the season.
Smith Rowe opened the scoring on 12 minutes after some fine work from Saka on the right-hand side, before the latter got on the scoresheet himself with a clever finish around 24 minutes later.
The two academy stars, who have both been pivotal in Arsenal's recent success, are both tied down to long-term contracts at the Emirates Stadium.
Ferdinand, when speaking on his Vibe with FIVE podcast on YouTube, has spoken about the Arsenal duo and has told Mikel Arteta to build the team around the pair.
“I said before the game, if Aubameyang scores and has an influence on the game you guys are a different team," the former Manchester United defender said.
"Again, he scores the goal, but Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, they were just sublime, especially in the first-half.
"They were clinical, an assist and a goal each. You have to build around these kids man, you have to keep them at the club for starters and they have to build around them with the right players with the right DNA."
So, Arteta has been told exactly what to do with Smith Rowe and Saka, but the Arsenal manager himself spoke about the duo's significance in the team, when addressing the media after the Tottenham win on Sunday.
"He [Smith Rowe] has scored two in the last two games. It’s great," Arteta explained.
"I think today was a great example of the senior players showing big leadership standing up for the team. The likes of Auba scoring a goal.
"And then two academy players who have been raised and developed within our system coming in a big derby and doing what they’ve done - scoring two goals."
The Gunners stars are set to start again this weekend when the side make the trip down to the south coast to face high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion.
Arteta's team will be desperate to continue their climb up the Premier League table but will face a difficult challenge down at the AmEx Stadium, with the Seagulls currently sitting in sixth-place after four wins from their opening six matches.
