Smith Rowe is first Arsenal kid this century to score double figures in Premier League after goal against Chelsea
EMILE SMITH ROWE became the first Arsenal kid to score double figures in the Premier League this CENTURY with his goal against Chelsea.
And he was later joined on the exclusive list by teammate Bukayo Saka, whose late penalty at Stamford Bridge sealed a 4-2 win for the Gunners.
Smith Rowe, 21, and Saka, 20, were both in fine form as an additional brace from Eddie Nketiah kept Arsenal’s top four hopes alive.
Smith Rowe’s 27th minute strike was sandwiched between Nketiah’s double at the Bridge, while Saka slotted home a 92nd minute penalty after winning it himself.
It meant Arsenal saw not just one but TWO players finally join a small-but-prestigious club.
Nicolas Anelka had so far been the only Gunner aged 21 or under to plunder 10 or more Premier League goals in a season.
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Aged 19-20, he bagged 17 domestic strikes during the 1998/99 campaign.
But Smith Rowe and Saka’s strikes took both of them to 10 league goals for the season, becoming the first youngsters to do so since Anelka’s glory days.
Smith Rowe had the honour of becoming the first to break the Frenchman’s long-standing solo streak.
And Saka’s last-gasp effort was the icing on the cake for Mikel Arteta’s men.
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Speaking after the final whistle, Arsenal’s boss hailed Saka for showing plenty of character while taking the penalty – his first since missing for England in their Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy.
Arteta said: “When I saw Bukayo was going to take it, my first thought was to him back in the summer and what happened.
"But again, as I said before, when that happened to Bukayo it happened for a reason and he learned so much and matured so much which is why he’s having the season he’s having.
“For him to have the courage to take the penalty, because I’m sure it was in the back of his mind, it took great character and courage.
"I’m so proud of the players and the way they reacted.
"It was a mentally really demanding game after everything we’ve been through in the past few weeks.”
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