Glenn Hoddle Full Of Praise For Gunners Starlet After Qarabag Win

Glenn Hoddle was impressed with Emile Smith Rowe’s performance…

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle was massively impressed with Emile Smith Rowe after the teenager bagged his first Arsenal goal in our 3-0 win away at Qarabag.

With a crucial Premier League game against Fulham on the horizon, Unai Emery rang the changes and also switched to a back three for the first time this season.

Smith Rowe occupied one of the two playmaker roles behind Danny Welbeck and the 18-year-old bagged the all-important second goal to make the game comfortable.

The youngster was handed a new long-term contract during the summer and wasn’t given the chance to go on loan, which shows how highly-rated he is with the squad.

Following his impressive display, Hoddle waxed lyrical about the midfielder.

“I like the way he moves off the ball,” Hoddle said on BT Sport.

“He loves to receive the ball, left or right foot, it doesn’t matter to him.”

Smith Rowe has all the qualities needed to make it at Arsenal but after the scars of Jack Wilshere, we’ll have to be patient with the academy graduate before labelling him the next hope.

It will be interesting to see which position Emery carves out for him as the years go by.