Emile Smith Rowe has named the three players who take charge in the Arsenal dressing room but Gary Neville reckons they don’t compare to the other top teams in England
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In pictures: Arsenal v Aston Villa
Emile Smith Rowe has named the three leaders in Arsenal ‘s dressing room after their win over Aston Villa.
The Gunners secured an impressive 3-1 victory over Dean Smith’s men with goals from Thomas Partey, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Rowe.
It was an electric first-half performance from Mikel Arteta’s men, in particular, and there are signs they are on the way up following their eighth-place finish last term.
Players seem to be working for one another with their high pressing to regain possession, as well as great organisation throughout the side – two things that were regularly on show on Friday night.
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Image:
Sky Sports)
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And Smith Rowe says the three players who are enabling that are Aubameyang and the two centre-halves Gabriel and Ben White.
When asked who are the leaders in the changing room, he told Sky Sports: “There’s a few (leaders) to be honest. Aubameyang the captain is always speaking, Gabriel, the two center-backs Ben (White) as well.
“I feel like together we are such a strong team and we’re coming together really well. We always try and help each other on and off the pitch. It’s really starting to show.
“Playing with these experienced players, it’s a bit surreal at times but it’s great when we step on the pitch together and I feel like the chemistry is really coming together.”
Gary Neville praised the performances of Gabriel, Aubameyang and Lacazette, but reckons they’re a “level below” some of the leaders that Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have.
He said: “They don’t really have outstanding senior players. Lacazette, Aubameyang and Gabriel had a great game tonight, but they’re just a level below the outstanding leaders some of the other teams have got at the very top of the league. That’s a problem for them.
“They’re good players, no problem with that. But if you look at some of the other teams up there, they have absolutely top players in those positions. “
Mikel Arteta was also full of praise for Smith Rowe’s performance as he grabbed a goal and an assist against Villa.
He added: “He should demand that in his game because he is capable of doing it. I’m pleased that that is developing. He still needs to develop more in other areas as well.
“The other night he wasn’t 100 per cent fit but he stepped forward and he wanted to play with a difficult injury that he had.
“There is no complaining, he 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.”
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