Smith Rowe: I’ve never doubted my ability

Arsenal youngster Emile Smith Rowe insists he is always full of confidence playing with the first-team.

The 20-year-old has been a revelation since starting in the win over Chelsea on Boxing Day.

Asked about his feeling before his debut, Smith Rowe said: “I didn’t doubt myself at all.

“I feel like I’ve always had confidence in myself, from the players and all my family. I feel like if I kept working hard and kept training, one day I would get an opportunity to show it.

“Obviously I’ve been at the club from a young age. Watching the first team, and seeing magical goals and the link-up combinations and stuff from a young age, I’ve always wanted to be a part of it. I think growing up I’ve always tried to do it in training and matches as I was going through the ranks in the academy.

“I found out I was in the starting XI against Chelsea on the day of the game. I had a knock on my hotel room door and it was one of the coaches basically saying, ‘

The manager would like to speak to you downstairs.’ I was thinking like, ‘Am I in trouble? Have I done something wrong?’ I’ve literally gone down there, he’s sat down in a chair and stuff, and he’s just looked at me and said, ‘Basically, I’ve got good news: you’re starting tonight.’

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“He had the tactics board in front of him and just showed me where I was playing and what I should do. It just gave me so much confidence. I was so surprised. My heart was beating so quickly and stuff. It was such a big game against a big team like Chelsea.