Emile Smith Rowe originally was supposed to join up with Lee Carsley’s England U21 squad but with Mason Mount and Marcus Rashford not reporting for international duty, the youngster now gets his first taste of senior international football.
In hot form for club and country.
Arsenal’s number 10 has been in red hot form prior to this international break, scoring three in his last trio of appearances for his club. The 21-year-old made it onto the scoresheet in the previous break too, converting home after sprinting the length of the pitch, cooly slotting past the Andorra U21 keeper Rodriguez Gimenez.
Since joining up with the England camp, now teammate and Chelsea right back Reece James described him as a top player in Gareth Southgate’s press conference.
“I’ve always known he’s a top player, he came to Chelsea when he was quite young actually, I remember playing with him and playing against him even when he moved to Arsenal. I always knew he was a top player and this season he’s shown how good he is and why he’s been selected.”
🗣 "I've always known he was a top player, he came to Chelsea when he was quite young, I remember playing with him and against him."
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 9, 2021
Reece James says he always knew Emile Smith Rowe was a top player as he joins up with the senior England team for the first time pic.twitter.com/Dc7Ay7Wm3Y
Team mate for club and country Bukayo Saka described his excitement for Smith Rowe by saying:
“He messaged me last night and I was just so happy for him.”
And when questioned on Arsenal’s takeover of England he grinningly replied with.
“Slowly.”
Happy with @emilesmithrowe's call up, @BukayoSaka87? 😄 pic.twitter.com/WJCF3aBbSp
— England (@England) November 8, 2021
A new Arsenal core in England
After a period of limited Arsenal representation at England, the players from the red side of north London are beginning to filter into St George's Park with Saka, Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and now Smith Rowe being called into Gareth Southgate's squads for various occasions.
Despite the incredibly tough competition for places within the squad, there is no reason why these players can't stamp their authority on Southgate's selected for years to come.
The final international break of 2021.
Club football fans across the country can be relieved to know that this is the final international break of 2021 before an uninterrupted run of Premier League games leading up to the busy Christmas period.
This International break, the three lions will face Albania at a sold out Wembley Stadium before travelling to the San Marino Stadium to face bottom of the group San Marino.
Southgate’s side currently sit top of Group I with 20 points – and four points will secure certain World Cup qualification and, the England manager will hope that his side can enjoy victories in both games before being able to look ahead to Qatar 2022.