Nigel Winterburn: Emile Smith Rowe's form is a huge boost for Arsenal

Former Arsenal full-back Nigel Winterburn has told freesupertips.com that young midfielder Emile Smith Rowe can continue to shine after battling his way back into the Gunners first team.

Smith Rowe netted a fine opening goal as Mikel Arteta's side claimed a 2-1 win over Brentford last week to keep them on course to mount a push for a top-four Premier League finish.

Winterburn said: "Smith Rowe has made huge strides and we heard from Arteta at the weekend that if he's in that type of form, then he simply can't be left out.

"He's had a spell out of the team because he looked jaded and it was the right decision to take him out in that period.

"He's had to wait to for his opportunity again because there was a suggestion he wasn't quite right physically, but he's come back and he looked very sharp against Brentford.

"Emile is an exciting talent. Arsenal have got some young players that can really push this team to the next level.

"They're being given their opportunity to impress and of course there will be times when they're in and out of the side.

"Even when Smith Rowe was coming off the bench, his attitude was first class and he was still scoring goals."

Winterburn has also been impressed with Martin Odegaard, who Arteta has hailed as a potential Arsenal captain.

He said: "I think he's been very good, I would call him a 'ball player', but he is very hard working for the team as well.

"I think he's actually been better this season than he was on loan last season.

"His performance levels have gone up again and he's started to really influence games.

"When we signed him, it was a good signing for Arsenal, but there was that question of whether he can go to that next level after his loan spell.

"He had a little bit of a blip earlier in the season, like other players he had some time out of the side, but he's come back in and kept that position."

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