Jack Wilshere thinks 17-year-old Emile Smith Rowe is the next big thing to come out of the Arsenal academy, and backs the youngster to make an impression for the first-team before long.

Ahead of Tuesday’s night’s Premier League International Cup final, the Premier League website asked Wilshere whether Smith Rowe could follow in his footsteps and make it into the first-team.

“He’s one that has come over and trained with us a few times,” Wilshere responded.

“You can always tell if a player is special if they come across and it doesn’t faze them and they play their own game. Emile is like that. He still wants to run with the ball and create things and I’m sure that there will be a lot to come from him.”

The youngster is really impressing everyone at the club at the moment, and it seems only a matter of time before he gets chances.

No wonder, when you look at what he’s doing for the academy. For example, take a look at his spectacular run in the FA Youth Cup semi-final to win (and then convert) a penalty:

His assist in the final was almost as impressive, cutting apart a Chelsea defence that hadn’t conceded a single goal in the tournament:

Now it looks like he’ll have another chance to impress in the Premier League International Cup final.

If the youngster can perform in front of the Emirates fans, up against FC Porto B, who knows? Maybe he’ll even make the squad to face Huddersfield Town this weekend.

We’ll have to wait and see, but he’s definitely on the right track.