Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe’s goals against Brentford earned them spots in the BBC’s Team of the Week for the latest round of fixtures.
Arsenal academy graduates Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe were the match-winners for Mikel Arteta’s side at the weekend, scoring the two goals in the 2-1 win over Brentford.
As a result of their performances, Garth Crooks named the two of them in his BBC Team of the Week.
On Saka, Crooks wrote that the winger is “one of [Arteta’s] most influential players”. He added that the player is likely starting to look attractive to the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid before pointing out that they probably can’t afford him right now.
As for Smith Rowe, Crooks highlighted that the youngster is showing he has “the ability to not only score a goal but carve the opportunity out all by himself”.
He went on to say that “to be in a position to both score and create all at the same time is a rare quality in a player”.
It’s always good to hear some praise for two of Arsenal’s best-performing players this season. The academy boys have turned it on in a big way this campaign, and they deserve credit for it.
If Arteta’s Arsenal have any chance of making it into next season’s Champions League, they have Saka and Smith Rowe to thank for that possibility.
Having said that, Arsenal still need the duo to keep performing like this for at least three more months yet.