Mikel Arteta Hails Arsenal Superstar After Victory Against Aston Villa, Reveals Big Secret About Him

• Mikel Arteta has hailed Emile Smith Rowe who already has two goals and two assists this season
• The Arsenal academy graduate was in superb form as Arsenal continued their resurgence in the Premier League with a comprehensive 3-1 win against Aston Villa
• The win took Arsenal to 14 points, level with the likes of Manchester United, West Ham and Everton

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has commended midfielder Emile Smith Rowe for changing his lifestyle after the youngster put up a world-class performance as the Gunners saw off Aston Villa in the Premier League on Friday, October 22.

Smith Rowe provided Thomas Partey with the assist from a corner for the Ghanaian to bag his first goal of his Arsenal career, having earlier hit the crossbar.

The Gunners were thoroughly dominant throughout the game and towards the end of the first half, with the scores 1-0, they were awarded a penalty for a Matt Targett foul on Alexandre Lacazette.

Marcus Thuram player profile: Borussia, injury, contracts

Football

Ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez expertly saved the spot-kick but from Aubameyang, but the Gabon international did well to slot in the rebound.

In truth, Aston Villa had a wretched first half where they failed to create a single solid attempt on goal, and things got worse for Dean Smith side 11 minutes into the second period when Smith Rowe put the game past them completely.

The England international won the ball in his own half and ended up finishing the move with a deflected effort that was helped in off the post.

Villa’s only goal on the day proved only to be a consolation as Jacob Ramsey curled his first Villa goal into the top corner.

Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta had nothing but praise for Smith Rowe, who would have joined Aston Villa last summer if Arsenal had accepted a bid.

"When you want to take the game to the next level, when you become a real important player in such a big club, that should be the only priority and every detail is important and relevant,” Arteta said as quoted by BBC.

AFCON 2022: start date, fixtures, groups, teams to watch out for, venues

Football

"You have to make him aware of that, you cannot give percentages away that can make big differences and he has changed that.

"There is no complaining, he (Smith Rowe) is just looking forwards, he is really determined, he has changed the way he is living as well a little bit and some of the habits that he had and he's been superb."

Arteta unhappy with Steve Bruce's treatment at Newcastle

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on Thursday, October 21, came to a passionate defence of Steve Bruce, a day after the 60-year old was dismissed as boss of Newcastle United.

According to Arteta, the treatment of Steve Bruce at the Tyneside club will likely put off managers from taking certain jobs.

Bruce, in a brutally honest interview in the wake of his sacking, laid bare as he suggested the Newcastle job might be his last.

A look at Bafana Bafana coaches over the years: Who was the most successful?

Football

He also claimed that during his time at Newcastle, he had been referred to as a "useless, a fat waste of space, a tactically inept cabbage head".

Reacting to Bruce’s admission, Arteta expressed concern over the treatment of the manager, saying “it is bound to get worse over time”.