‘A brilliant moment’: BBC pundit loves what Arsenal talent did last night

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Arsenal ace Emile Smith Rowe scored his first goal for England on Monday in his first start for the Three Lions.

The 21-year-old Gunners midfielder has come an incredibly long way in the past year.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta only gave Smith Rowe his first Premier League start 11 months ago.

Now, the Hale End graduate is a key member of the Gunners first team, with 58 competitive appearances, 12 goals and nine assists to his name.

Last week, Gareth Southgate called Smith Rowe up to the England squad after Marcus Rashford and James Ward-Prowse withdrew.

The Arsenal gem made his England bow off the bench in the World Cup qualifying win over Albania on Friday.

And on Monday, Southgate handed Smith Rowe his first start for the Three Lions, in the trip to San Marino.

The Arsenal talent easily picked spaces in the opposition defence, made some great runs and combined well with fellow Gunner Bukayo Saka.

Smith Rowe got himself on the scoresheet in the 57th minute, rolling home after Tammy Abraham flicked Saka’s cross into his path.

“A brilliant moment,” BBC Sport pundit Rob Green said on Radio 5 Live (15/11, 21:02).

“It was started by Ben Chilwell with a wonderful drilled flat ball across the pitch.

“Then it was all about picking the right passes. A fantastic goal, regardless of the opposition.”

Smith Rowe had also set up Harry Kane’s second earlier on in the game, combining well with Kalvin Phillips to cross home for the Spurs man.

Arsenal are next in action on Saturday when they face Liverpool at Anfield.