Ian Wright reveals his advice for ‘really worried’ Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe

Ian Wright has revealed the advice he gave Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe when the youngster was struggling to score goals.

Smith Rowe has been a mainstay in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI so far this season, and has played a key role in the north London club’s current 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

The 21-year-old has scored four goals in the opening 11 Premier League games this campaign, two more than he got across the whole of last term.

And Wright has spoken out about how the academy graduate came to him for advice about how to improve his goalscoring numbers following his rough patch in front of goal.

‘It’s something I said to him. I said ‘listen you create as well, there’s times where you go into these situations, have a shot, get more shots in games’ and now he’s doing it. We need more goals from other areas,’ he told Premier League Productions.

‘It’s something that he was really, really worried about, [he said] ‘I wanna score more goals’. And I told him just keep getting in there and it’s happening now.

‘He’s up in everything [this season], more shots in games, getting himself in the box more and that is where he’ll score more goals.

‘He himself said I want the number 10 shirt and for him to take it, that’s the confidence and the drive and determination that he has to take that shirt.

‘If you’re taking that shirt and you’re not performing it weighs heavy. But no he’s taken it and we’re now seeing him thrive with that.’

Meanwhile, former Tottenham defender Ledley King has urged Smith Rowe to score even more goals if he wants to be recognised as one of the very best attacking midfielders.

‘He plays with a maturity, he seems so much older the way he plays the game. Tremendous player and scoring goals is how he takes himself to the next level if he wants to be one of the best players in that position he has to score goals,’ he added.