Arsenal reporter confirms ‘special’ talent is ‘not on scrapheap’ as Arteta’s ‘big error’ is highlighted
According to reports, Mikel Arteta has told Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe that he “wants him to stay” with the club beyond this summer.
From a club perspective, Smith Rowe’s 2022/23 campaign was a nightmare as he did not start a single game in the Premier League.
The midfielder showed what he was capable of at the U21 Euros as he helped Lee Carsley’s Young Lions go all the way and win the tournament.
This achievement stands the Englishman in good stead ahead of next season, but he has been linked with a move away from Arsenal, with Unai Emery hoping to reunite with him at Aston Villa.
Arteta remains an admirer of Smith Rowe, though. TEAMtalk’s Arsenal correspondent – Charles Watts has revealed that Arsenal intend to give their academy product an “opportunity” to prove himself ahead of next season.
“He’s certainly not on the Arsenal scrapheap,” Watts told TEAMtalk. “Mikel Arteta has told him that he wants him to stay. I think going into the summer, I thought there was a good chance he could probably go… But by all accounts, they want him to stay and are going to give him an opportunity, which I’m really happy with.
“We all kind of forget how good Emile Smith Rowe is and how good he was when he burst onto the scene. Injuries have obviously hampered him a lot but he’s got so much to give. He’s such a good player. He’s so smart, he’s technically excellent, he can finish. And he’s got everything you need to be successful in this Arsenal team.”
“Just because he’s been out for such a long period of time, a lot of fans have kind of forgotten about that. And, you know, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Smith Rowe makes a big, big impact next season. He just needs chances.”
READ MORE: Trafford creates history as England Under-21s show Southgate how to become European champions
Watts has also argued that Arteta should have used Smith Rowe more regularly during the run-in last season.
“I think one of the big errors that Arteta made last season was the way he rotated his squad,” Watts added.
“There were a lot of opportunities, especially in the second half of last season, when Smith Rowe was fit. He had the opportunity to get him some minutes and start putting pressure on those in front of him in the first team. But he just didn’t do it. He just didn’t bring him off the bench and didn’t give him the game time he needed.
“So I just hope that this season is different and he does give him some minutes to try and impress because he’s a hell of a talent. I think a lot of people have forgotten just how good he is. I think he’s really special.”
READ MORE: Who will win the Premier League next year? Arsenal splurge brings them in to 6/1
