‘Similar level’: Arsenal have a top talent who’s been compared to Mo Salah

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Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe has kicked on this season, so much so that one statistic puts him in the same league as the likes of Mohamed Salah.

The 21-year-old is one of the best players to graduate from the Hale End setup in recent years.

Alongside Bukayo Saka, Smith Rowe has cemented his place in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI.

He had to bide his time at the Emirates Stadium, with just two Premier League appearances prior to last Christmas.

However, Arteta finally named him in the starting XI against Chelsea on Boxing Day – his full Premier League debut – and the rest is history.

Ten months on, and Smith Rowe has 57 competitive senior appearances to his name, plus two England Under-21 caps.

In addition, Smith Rowe has registered an impressive 11 goals and nine assists in red and white.

On Friday, Sky Sports published an article outlining how much he has taken his game to another level this season.

“Where once he was more inclined to lay the ball off to a team-mate, now he tries to carry it forward himself,” they wrote.

“In fact, Smith Rowe’s dribbling numbers have increased even more sharply than his shots.

“His average of 2.1 successful take-ons per 90 minutes is nearly four times higher than it was last season and puts him at a similar level to Grealish, Mohamed Salah and Raheem Sterling.

“He is passing less as a result, but with more directness and more intention to hurt opponents.

“The statistics prove it. His forward passing percentage is up from 19.8 per cent to 26.7 per cent.

“His final third passing percentage has also risen, from 83.6 per cent to 89.1 per cent.

“Perhaps most impressively, despite playing closer to the opposition goal and taking more risks with his distribution, Smith Rowe’s pass success rate has risen to 90 per cent.

“The highest of any Arsenal player this season and further evidence of his growing efficiency.”