Emile Smith Rowe drew suggestions for the help that allowed Bukayo Saka to score Arsenal’s second goal against West Brom on Saturday night but it was his earlier pass times that summed up what he brought to side of Mikel Arteta.
The 20-year-old had already seen the spot open in front of him when he got the ball from Hector Bellerin in the middle of the West Brom half. Using the inside of his right shoe, he led him to Saka’s feet, passing Romaine Sawyers and Conor Gallagher with one touch and blasting forward as he did so.
Suddenly, Arsenal were gone. Saka turned and sent the ball away to Alexandre Lacazette, who then steered it back into Smith Rowe’s path. The West Brom box was broken. Smith Rowe picked up his academy graduate for the second time and hit the ball behind the net. Arsenal dual-zero.
It was a scintillating team goal. The ball traveled through seven Arsenal players from the start of the move to the end of it. But it was Smith Rowe who carved the open face, his speed, vision and intent turning a promising aisle of play into a lethal one.
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FREE TO LIFE: A selection from Arsenal’s win over West Brom
They are traits that this Arsenal side have been lacking this season.
Often in the first half of the campaign, their approach was progressive; the passing. It was difficult for Arteta’s men to create scoring opportunities without letting them take them. Of course it was difficult for them to move the ball into the third final.
The lack of spark raised questions about Mesut Ozil’s decision to leave. Surely a playmaker of his ability was a perfect candidate for solving the creative problem of the side? Instead, however, the solution seems to have come from a younger model.
Until Boxing Day, Smith Rowe had not played a single minute in the Premier League this season, his appearance was limited to the cup competitions while recovering from a shoulder injury and Arteta selected more experienced players. in the big games.
Since then, however, he has started three times in a week, his performances at the head of the midfield helping Arsenal claim three winners after the Premier League for the first time since July.
Its introduction is not the only thing behind the recent development but it is certainly important. “The team looks good with No. 10 as Emile Smith Rowe,” Ozil wrote, roughly, on Twitter on Saturday night. “The differentiator,” he said.
Ozil had just seen Smith Rowe continue his good performances against Chelsea and Brighton with an even better man at the Hawthorns. In addition to playing the crucial role in the second goal, he was involved in a build-up to opener Kieran Tierney and got the preview that came before third Alexandre Lacazette.
As in the previous two games, however, it was his overall contribution that most benefited Arsenal.
The Croydon-born youngster, an Arsenal player from the age of nine, plays unhindered, speeding up the game in ways that are simple yet effective. One-touch pass here. A fall from the shoulder there. It’s always moving.
“He could find a place in a telephone box,” said Danny Cowley, his manager at loan at Huddersfield City last season.
That ability to find places takes it all over the park. Of course, it is not his duty on this Arsenal side to provide a creative presence at No. 10, but to exchange positions with his teammates, making himself available for a pass instead. any over the front line, then play the next one quickly and effortlessly. .
The best example of that tie play came on Saturday before Arsenal’s second goal started but there was another just minutes later, when Tierney fired a foul on Arsenal’s left-back, then went into the box and played a man -two with Lacazette, who made the almost defiant effort.
By the end of the match, Arsenal had attempted more shots than any other Premier League game under Arteta (21), recording their highest number on target (12) since a meeting with Manchester United in December 2017.
“I’m so happy because in the third final, we looked so lively,” Arteta said after the game. “There’s a lot of movement, there’s good energy, there’s reason, and all man playing on. It’s like we’re cheaper to play and we can generate a lot of things there. “
It relies heavily on Smith Rowe’s willingness to take risks. They don’t always come for it but it provides stability as well as purpose. Since Boxing Day, the Arsenal player has not tried any more dribbles. Only Tierney has created more opportunities.
Crucially, Smith Rowe puts defensively as well as offensive, runs opponents down, wins possession back and, at one point in the second half at the Hawthorns, even pops up on for his own box to make a crucial interlude from Dara O ’Shea’s past.
His level of work is one of Arteta’s favorite virtues about him and he was certainly evident at the Hawthorns.
At the time of his substitute, Smith Rowe had covered more ground (10.1km) than any other Arsenal player, according to Premier League tracking data. He had also recorded the highest sprints (13) and even the highest average speed (7.71km / h).
It’s just a shame that he missed out on an end-of-pack away recommendation when he was sent off near the end of the game. But recent evidence suggests that there will be many more opportunities for that. Emile Smith Rowe had to devote his time to an opportunity this season. Now, however, he seems to be here to stay.