ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta has categorically insisted he intends to keep Emile Smith Rowe at the club, despite suitors Aston Villa expecting to make a third bid, this time of around £35 million.
 
Speaking to the Morning Star newspaper at Easter Road on Tuesday evening after the Gunners disappointing 2-1 pre-season friendly defeat to a resolute Hibernian side, Arteta was adamant the highly-rated 23-year-old was going nowhere. 
 
The Croydon-born talented tyro had previously been the subject of an opening feeler worth £25m from the west Midlands side last month, before they lodged a second offer of £30m. But manager Arteta point-blank dismissed the notion of Smith Rowe leaving for Villa Park. 
 
“Without question. He will stay here 100 per cent,” Arteta confirmed. When asked for his thoughts on Villa’s so-called “derisory” bids Smith Rowe, the Arsenal boss replied diplomatically: “No comment.”
 
A young Arsenal side started the match in Scotland’s capital city which featured Arthur Okonkwo in goal.
 
Unfortunately for the 19-year-old - who put pen to paper on a new, long-term deal with the Gunners only last week – his blunder allowed Hibs’ lively No 10 Martin Boyle to put the home side ahead. 
 
In front of a crowd of around 2,000 fans on a balmy evening, Okonkwo failed to deal with a Cedric backpass, failing to volley the ball clear, as Boyle pounced from close range to make it 1-0 on 21 minutes.
 
Arteta understandably backed the young shot-stopper who has been with the club since he was nine. “He has been with us since academy levels but unfortunately he started the game like that. He will get better. 
 
“He has another chance on Saturday [against Rangers at Ibrox]. Hopefully he can get better.”
 
Arteta made a raft of changes during the interval, including substituting the unfortunate Okonkwo with Karl Hein between the posts, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang swapped with Alex Lacazette. Senior stars Nicolas Pepe, Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey also bolstered the team. 
 
Despite Pepe and Partey hitting the woodwork after the break, Hibs went 2-0 ahead when Daniel Mackay headed home in a crowded box to double to scoreline on 69 minutes. 
 
Four minutes later Arsenal were awarded a soft penalty by referee Don Robertson when Pepe went down in the box. 
 
However, the £72m attacker fluffed his lines with a weak spot kick that saw Hibs 23-year-old keeper Kevin Dabrowski save low to his left to keep the visitors out.
 
It capped an impressive 45 minutes of action for the former Lech Poznan netminder, who replaced ex-Gunner Matt Macey during the break. 
 
Arsenal did score with nine minutes remaining through Smith Rowe after Pepe’s cross, but the side led by Jack Ross held out to record a well-deserved victory. 
 
Yet, for Arsenal supporters, the biggest victory of the evening was Arteta’s emphatic confirmation that Smith Rowe has a long-term future in north London rather than the west Midlands.