Made in Hale End

The sight of 21-year-old Emile Smith Rowe racing away from the breached Tottenham Hotspur goal in jubilant celebration, closely trailed by 20-year-old team-mate and close friend Bukayo Saka, who’d just assisted the midfielder’s opening strike in the North London derby, will remain etched in the minds of Arsenal supporters for years to come.

The game, in September 2021, was just 12 minutes old when Smith Rowe struck. He turned provider a quarter of an hour later, bursting through the inside-left channel before cutting back for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Then, on 34 minutes, Saka had a goal of his own, collecting a careful pass from his pal before driving forward and finishing low past Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris. That Tottenham pulled back a goal in the second half did little to dampen Arsenal’s spirits. A 3-1 derby victory was secured, made sweeter for its hometown glory.

“It’s made in Hale End,” Saka told BBC Radio 5 Live of his and Smith Rowe’s fine-tuned link-up, referencing the club’s academy base in north-east London. “I’m so happy for him.

“We spoke