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Tony Adams has told Premier League Productions that Emile Smith-Rowe has got feet like Robert Pires after watching the playmaker produce a sublime assist for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s hat-trick goal against Leeds United on Sunday.
Aubameyang netted his first hat-trick in Premier League football against Marcelo Bielsa’s side, as Illan Meslier had an evening to forget. The Frenchman was guilty for one of Aubameyang’s goals, before letting a Hector Bellerin shot fly in at the near post.
The Gabon and Arsenal captain got his third goal when Helder Costa gave the ball away, allowing Smith-Rowe to break into the box and the 20-year-old laid on his fourth assist of the season for Aubameyang – curling a chip into the Gunners striker.
There are question marks over whether Smith-Rowe looked to curl the ball towards goal, or into Aubameyang – but Gunners icon Adams thinks Smith-Rowe has picked his teammate out, rather than looking to score himself, comparing him to Pires.
Asked whether it was a shot, Adams replied: “No, no no. He’s picked him out. This kid has got talent. He’s got Robert Pires feet. Pires could run quicker with the ball than I could without the ball.
TBR’s view – Smith-Rowe could be an option for Southgate
His technique and vision is giving Arsenal the kind of creation that they have lacked since Mesut Ozil’s form dropped in an Arsenal shirt. The youngster is certainly showing the kind of potential required to earn England recognition.
Unfortunately for Smith-Rowe, he finds enormous competition in that position. James Maddison is on fire for Leicester, Jack Grealish is just as good from the left as he is in the 10 role, while Mason Mount is also impressing for Chelsea.
Potentially an option for England, but Euro 2021 is too soon.
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