Interview

Smith Rowe – How winning World Cup helped me

Recently crowned a World Cup winner with England Under-17s in India, Emile Smith Rowe is now aiming to make the transition to our under-23 side.

The winger made his first appearance in Steve Gatting’s team against Everton earlier in the season and has earned opportunities in back-to-back games, first against Porto and now Swansea.

With England, the 17-year-old played as a winger, and has done under Kwame Ampadu with our under-18s. Yet on Monday night, Smith Rowe featured in central midfield.

“I think playing in central midfield is different for me, I’ve never really played there before,” he told Arsenal Player. “I’ve still got that instinct to get forward and get a couple of shots away, so it was good to get a couple of chances.

“It was a great experience, winning the World Cup, but I’ve come back here and I’m just trying to focus as much as I can and I think it will help me get better as the year goes on.

“It gives me a lot of confidence, I’ve been playing with the under-18s most of the season, but now I’m starting to push up and it’s increasing my confidence.

“I think it’s very different, the pace of the game is much quicker and everyone is stronger and bigger. But I’m getting stronger as well, so I think it will help me in the future.”