Jamie Redknapp lauds Arsenal star who reminds him of Jack Grealish

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Jamie Redknapp raved about Emile Smith Rowe on Sky Sports after Arsenal stunned Chelsea to leave Stamford Bridge with all three points. The pundit also 

The Gunners youngster netted the only goal of the game after just 16 minutes, capitalising on an error from Blues midfielder Jorginho.

Smith Rowe has proved a revelation since coming into the team in the return fixture against Chelsea on Boxing Day.

He was once again part of everything good about Mikel Arteta’s team last night and thoroughly deserved to be the match-winner.

Redknapp was desperately impressed with the youngster and applauded him for his mature performance after the contest. He also compared him to Aston Villa playmaker Jack Grealish.

He told Sky Sports: “I want to mention Smith Rowe. I thought he was excellent today. He didn’t get Man of the Match but I thought he was the best player on the pitch, he made things happen and everything he did he did with a purpose.

“I thought he was exceptional and I think he’s been like that all season since he got into the team.

“To compare them, when (Jack) Grealish has the ball at his feet, they look very similar in the way they move and it’s a nightmare to defend against.”

Arsenal have now done the double over Chelsea for the first time in many years. Smith Rowe’s goal offered another reminder of his quality to boss Arteta.

The youngster will hope to keep his good form up as the Gunners try and finish a pretty disappointing season with a flourish.

TBR View: Smith Rowe now integral to Arteta’s team

Although the comparison with Grealish is far too soon, it’s easy to understand where Redknapp is coming from.

Smith Rowe is just as integral to Arsenal in the final third as the England man is to Aston Villa and he’ll have aspirations of scaling similar heights in the coming years.

The Gunners starlet is only 20 but already he is making a mockery of the fact that it took Arteta so long to let him loose on the Premier League.

Arsenal’s season is dwindling away but the future looks extremely right for Smith Rowe.