Swindon Town midfielder Anthony Grant is enjoying playing alongside Arsenal loanee Matt Smith, as the 19-year-old quickly establishes himself.

Smith is around a month into his loan spell with Swindon Town, starting in four of the five games they’ve played this season. He has a goal and an assist already, and he leads League One for interceptions with 12.

That all helps to win over his new teammates, with Anthony Grant telling the media he’s already enjoying playing alongside the Arsenal teenager.

“He (Smith) is a pleasure to play with,” Grant said. “We get on well on and off the pitch too, and I’m there to help him and all the young boys.

“He plays in my position, so I can help him, but he’s a very good young player who likes to pass forward, get on the ball, and express himself. He’s a joy to play with.”

It’s still early days for Smith at Swindon, and in senior competitive football in general. He hadn’t made a senior appearance before this season, and as recently as 2018/19 he was still playing for the Arsenal u18s.

The 2019/20 campaign was a positive one for the midfielder’s development, stepping up into the u23s before impressing Mikel Arteta enough to regularly make the squad for the first team. He even picked up an FA Cup winners’ medal to top it all off.

That progression was enough to get him his current loan move. It’s a great opportunity and one he’s taking well so far.