Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe made his first start for Arsenal in the 1-0 win over Brentford in the EFL Cup. "I have changed a bit of my mentality… just to go for it," he said.
Arsenal were 1-0 winners at Brentford as Aaron Ramsdale responded to being controversially dropped by Mikel Arteta. Moreover, Emile Smith Rowe made his first start in Wednesday's EFL Cup match.
The 23-year-old made his first appearance of the campaign in the Champions League game against PSV and is delighted to have started his first game for the Gunners.
"I have changed a bit of my mentality... just to go for it. I have not really got anything to lose. I have tried to change that inside me. I used to have a lot of doubts. I used to question my confidence, at times. But now I am really strong. I am feeling really fit and I am taking that into now," he said.
"The gaffer has really helped me with that. He was helping me through my injury and often pulled me for chats about how I can be mentally stronger. I tried to support the boys as much as I could when I couldn't help them on the pitch. It was really tough but I am stronger now."