Arsenal have a top talent who can become so 'much better'

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says Gunners playmaker Emile Smith Rowe is “very good right now”, but he can become “much better”.

The Arsenal prodigy has been one of the biggest success stories out of Hale End in recent years.

Along with Bukayo Saka, Smith Rowe has broken into the Arsenal first team and become a key player.

Smith Rowe was especially impressive in last weekend’s 3-1 Premier League win over Spurs at the Emirates.

He opened the scoring in the 12th minute, ghosting into space to slot home from Saka’s cutback.

The 21-year-old then turned provider for Arsenal’s second on 27 minutes.

He squared for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to rifle home following a marauding run.

Saka then netted just seven minutes later for a 3-0 half-time lead, with Son Heung-min netting a consolation in the second half.

Ahead of Arsenal’s weekend trip to Brighton, football.london asked Arteta just how good Smith Rowe could be.

“We will see,” he replied. “He’s very good right now and he can get still much better.

“There are things in his game that he must improve and develop.”

Smith Rowe has earned praise from plenty of pundits, peers and Arsenal legends since his first-team breakthrough.

Martin Keown said earlier this year that Smith Rowe and Saka’s influence on the Gunners team had been “absolutely outstanding”.

And Ray Parlour said the 21-year-old was an “exciting” talent whose style of play reminded him of Paul Merson.

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal have a top talent in their ranks who can become so ‘much better’