BOYHOOD Arsenal fan Emile Smith Rowe has described breaking into Mikel Arteta’s starting XI as “a dream”.

The Gunners ended 2020 with six vital points in the Premier League courtesy of back-to-back wins over Chelsea and Brighton. And at the heart of those victories was an exciting and energetic new triangle of Smith Rowe, fit-again Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.

Now that Smith Rowe has had a proper taste of first-team action, he says he is determined to put in the hard work needed to earn even more minutes on the pitch.

“I’ve really enjoyed it,” the 20-year-old attacking midfielder told Arsenal Media. “It’s a dream for me to play for this club.

“I’m so happy and grateful that the manager has shown faith in me and given me the chance.

“I’ve just got to keep training hard, and then when I get the opportunity, I’ve got to take it.”

Arsenal travel to West Brom this Saturday, looking to secure a hat-trick of wins for the first time this season.

Arteta is confident his charges can build on their much-needed wins over Chelsea and Brighton.

“I said last week that the best medicine against any illness in football is to win football matches,” said the Gunners boss.

“We’ve done it with two in a row in really different ways, because they were two very different opponents.

“We know how much we needed those wins. And now, I think everyone is in a much better mood.

“We have managed through a difficult period to maintain our team spirit and cohesion, and sometimes that isn’t easy to do because obviously the frustration that comes out with defeats has an effect on the team.

“Hopefully now we can go on a run of games and be even more positive.”

Despite netting two wins on the bounce, Arteta insists his January transfer window plans haven’t changed.

The Gunners are targeting a creative midfielder once the market reopens tomorrow (Friday). Real Madrid’s Isco and Sevilla’s Joan Jordan are among the names being linked with a move to the Emirates.

“The last few results won’t change our approach to the window,” said Arteta. “We cannot talk about individual players.”

Arteta made it clear just before Christmas, however, that it will be an active transfer window for the club.

He added: “We are looking at options that we have, players coming in and out. We will see what happens.

“It is a really complicated window, with the pandemic and the way the football world is at the moment, so we’ll see how things develop.”