Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka’s determination to become better players, despite the trappings of wealth, have led to them making their first-team breakthrough.
A lot of talented youngsters have come through the gates of the Hale End academy over the years, but Wright says Smith Rowe and Saka were not just satisfied being on lucrative contracts:
“What I’m absolutely over the moon with is that he got this massive contract, a lot of money, and it’s literally not fazed him one bit. That is a fantastic sign. People don’t realise that. With certain players there’s a drop off because the comfort is now in and they can have anything. So you find that somewhere along the line something kind of softens. It’s nothing like that with him and it’s nothing like that with Saka. They’re not swayed or after anything other than success. It’s so exciting for Arsenal.”
It’s a great point made by Wright. The players that go on to do great things in the professional game are the ones who have the inner drive to improve.
Smith Rowe has deservedly been called up for England’s senior side this week, and the 21-year-old has explained how he changed his diet in order to push on to the next level.
The willingness to go the extra step in order to succeed is the reason why players like Smith Rowe and Saka stand out above many others who may have had similar levels of talent.
