Emile Smith Rowe transformed his football career within 18 months, from a player who could not break into Arsenal’s first eleven to a player that has been called up to represent the Three Lions of England.
Emile Smith Rowe is a product of Arsenal’s youth system. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has been in Arsenal’s youth system since he was a child.
In his quest to gain more experience, he has spent some months on loan at RB Leipzig and Huddersfield. He broke into Mikel Arteta‘s squad on August 1, 2020.
Between August 2020 to date, Emile Smith Rowe has played 58 times for the club’s senior team. In those games, the youngster has scored 12 goals and provided 9 assists.
The ongoing 2021-2022 season has been the best of Smith Rowe. So far this season, the fast-rising superstar has played 13 times, scoring 5 goals and providing 2 assists. He scored Arsenal’s winner against Watford on Sunday, November 7.
His form made it impossible for coach Gareth Southgate to ignore him when he was inviting players for this November international break. Hence, the coach had to give the 21-year-old attacking midfielder his first national team call-up.
Recently, Mikel Arteta told reporters that Emile Smith Rowe’s game improved because he changed his lifestyle.
In the same vein, ahead of England vs Albania FIFA World Cup qualification match scheduled to kick off at 20:45 on Friday, November 12, Smith Rowe revealed that Arsenal appointed a chef specially for him who helped him to start eating well.
“I didn’t use to eat that well, to be honest”, Smith Rowe said.
“I used to get cramp after 60 minutes and stuff. I wasn’t eating great, I wasn’t drinking that well, before games I wasn’t really that hydrated but since then I’ve tried to focus so much on it.
“The club have sorted me out a chef. They come to my house now.
“I’ve tried to cut out chocolate and takeaways as much as I can. I’m always eating from home now. He [the chef] has got a couple of pasta dishes and that’s good. I didn’t use to like fish but now I’m into it. Salmon and stuff.”
From #YoungLions to #ThreeLions 🦁@emilesmithrowe x @PhilFoden pic.twitter.com/9QPHvvGijx
— England (@England) November 10, 2021
Emile Smith Rowe described how he reacted when he received England call up
Emile Smith Rowe was expecting to join up with England’s under-21 team when England head coach Gareth Southgate called him ahead of the country’s World Cup qualifiers against Albania and San Marino.
Instead of getting invited to the under-20s, he was invited to the senior team after the withdrawals of Marcus Rashford and James Ward-Prowse.
The 21-year-old Arsenal attacking midfielder said he had to run to inform his mother immediately he was told that he had been invited to the national team.
“It was a great moment for me and my family – I ran downstairs straight away and told my mum. It was very emotional”, he said. “They were so proud of me…
“Obviously I play against these guys every week but for England, it’s always different.
“Wearing the same training kit and passing the ball to each other – it’s crazy to be alongside these great players.
“Harry Kane, captain of England, what he’s done – it’s crazy to be training with him. [Raheem] Sterling as well. I always knew training would be difficult. It still hasn’t sunk in I’m actually here yet.”
“My mum was actually downstairs at the time. It was very emotional, but they were so proud of me!” 🥰
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 10, 2021
Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe described his first call-up to the England senior squad as "a dream come true" as he reflected on a whirlwind 18 months 🏴 pic.twitter.com/hQLv8cubNH
