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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Mikel Arteta details Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka's response to Arsenal chant

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has thanked the club's fans following his team's 2-1 victory against Brentford at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.

Supporters chanted the names of academy graduates Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka - who scored the Gunners' two goals - throughout the afternoon.

The song - sung to the tune on Status Quo's "Rocking All Over The World" - goes: "Hale End's on a roll! Saka and Emile Smith Rowe!"

When asked about the club's fans after the Premier League game, Arteta said: "Thank you to the supporters for the atmosphere they created.

"They love that song because they are players we have raised in our system."

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Bukayo Saka was a constant threat against Brentford on Saturday afternoon (Getty)

Saka and Smith Rowe have scored 16 goals between them in all competitions this season and Arteta is delighted to see the youngsters grab the headlines.

"They have to get the headlines because they do what is most difficult and win the match by an individual action," added the Spaniard.

"They deserve credit for that, but I thought the rest of the team were very good too.

"We do a lot of work with them individually, mentally with the psychologists, to fill their belief.

"They see how they are with the supporters, that energy and that's probably their biggest strength.

"[Smith Rowe] He's been injured. He's worked really hard and when he plays like he did today, he's really good."

Arsenal's victory on Saturday leaves them in sixth, one point behind Manchester United in fourth with two games in hand.

West Ham, Tottenham and Wolves are also in the hunt for the final Champions League spot.

Speaking about Arsenal's performance against Brentford, Arteta said: "I think today we were really, really good.

"We have a real belief in what we are doing, the players are enjoying the togetherness and the spirit they have is tremendous. They just want to keep pushing themselves.

"We have another game on Thursday, we'll try to win it and go game by game."

Arsenal's next game is against top-four rivals Wolves - who are currently five points behind the Gunners having fulfilled the same amount of fixtures - at the Emirates.

Emile Smith Rowe scored Arsenal's opening goal against Brentford (Getty Images)

Arteta gave Cedric Soares a rare start at right-back against Brentford and the Portuguese star was delighted to get the three points.

"I think we started the game really, really well," Cedric told Arsenal's website.

"Everyone was motivated, everyone wanted to score, everyone was helping each other and playing at home with these fantastic fans today was fantastic.

"It was the right mentality, they were all behind us and the team felt it.

"Every game in the Premier League is important for us. The team knows about it, we are facing it like a final every game and our mentality is to just go again and win it.

"That's what the team is focused on every game, and again to play at home right now is just incredible with the atmosphere we are getting here every game - and the players loved it."

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