Thierry Henry thinks the stunning performances of Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka against Tottenham could be a catalyst for huge things at Arsenal.
After suffering three consecutive defeats to start the Premier League campaign, the Gunners have roared back into form, winning four times on the spin in all competitions.
Their most recent victory, a dominant 3-1 win over north London rivals Spurs has lifted the mood around the Emirates even further.
Smith Rowe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Saka all scored in the first half, before Spurs scored a consolation in the closing minutes.
It was a huge day for Arsenal’s academy with two Hale End graduates playing a pivotal role in such a commanding victory.
And Henry, who was part of a jubilant home crowd on Sunday, told Sky Sports that the two youngsters’ continued excellence could have a massive impact on everybody at the club.
“Bukayo Saka and Smith Rowe, I think the team played really well especially in the first half,” the Frenchman told Monday Night Football.
“But then for me those two having a goal and an assist, Arsenal played that game as a derby as they should, I don’t think Tottenham did especially in the second half.
“What a day, you want to see that more often than not but for me the two kids especially for the academy and what it does represent, it is contagious.
“We need that Arsenal, we need these types of performances and that’s why we care when the guys that add that DNA in them because they know what it is to win and not suffer against Tottenham.”
It’s a contrasting story for Tottenham however, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s coming under intense scrutiny, losing three league games in a row and shipping nine goals in the process.
Spurs produced a limp and lifeless performance against the Gunners and fellow pundit Jamie Carragher felt it raised serious questions about the man in the dugout.
The Liverpool legend added: “Whenever I see a performance like that, I always look at players, managers a lot of the time take a lot of criticism and for me it’s the players.
“We saw this performance from Tottenham, don't forget, under a different manager and they got battered by Arsenal and had a bit of a rally at the end of the game.
“There was some shocking performances from Tottenham players but I thought the manager was equally culpable in this result with how he set up and went about his tactics.
“You always have a plan, but I’m not sure how this one [Spurs] was ever going to work.”
