If there’s an Arsenal player to watch in the 2023–24 season, it is not the summer arrivals or even Saka, Odegaard, or Martinelli; it is Emile Smith-Rowe, and here are things that make his 2023–24 season one to watch.
1. This Could Be His Last Shot at Establishing Himself at the Emirates
There was a belief he could leave this summer for some good money, but there’s talk the club still believes in him. His staying next season will allow him to prove why it was nice not to cash in on him. The best he could do next season is repay the club’s faith in him and his performance. If he doesn’t take his chances next season, it could be his last at the Emirates.
2. He’s taken Arteta’s advice on board
Sometime back, Arteta indirectly asked him to fight and continue proving he deserved a chance, saying, “He knows how much we love him, how much we missed him, and how much we need his qualities.
“Now he needs to prove it and how much he wants to win and how much he’s going to contribute to this team to be better. He’s gonna have to show that to get in the team.”
The Hale End graduate is determined to be in his best shape, with reports saying that he’s even hired a personal coach, Sean O’Shea, who’s working with him in Dubai. Notably, O’Shea has also worked with Luke Shaw and Virgil Van Dijk. The hope is that he could regain his mojo with this personal training.
3. He has a busy schedule to sharpen his skills before a full pre-season with Arsenal
He has been allowed to represent England internationally but with the U21s in the European Under-21 championship. That’s a competition, and he’ll get plenty of game time to regain match fitness. Following the Under-21 championship, he is set to link up with Arsenal for pre-season, after which the new season will kick off. If all goes well for him, Smith-Rowe should have his mojo back by next season, and it will just be up to Arteta to decide where to unleash him.
We know he is super-talented, and this coming season is his big chance to show it…..
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Let’s hope our Manager recognises the need to give him opportunities to display his undoubted talent.He needs to play to regain match fitness which was denyed him last season even when the wheels came off our title challenge.
Emile Smith Rowe has already had a breakout year, it was within the depths of COVID when he was drafted into the Arsenal team in December 2020, for the next year he was one of our best players and for sure a player that helped save Arteta’s job with the turnaround that followed us just being outside the bottom 3. This is about getting him match fit, competitive and someone who can thrive in a new position.
I think Marcelo Flores and Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand are more technical/ skilled than him, but he is more suited to be Arsenal’s poster boy and better physically
I would love to see ESR have a great season, he has a great skill set, but he needs to settle on one position to push his growth and his place in the team. MA supposedly sees him more as a midfielder than a winger. That said, if he was made part of the Rice deal I would not be so disappointed.
Fabrizio Romano said Arsenal will try to keep Smith-Rowe. Maybe Arteta will try him out in Xhaka’s position
The rumour mill has suggested ESR is wanted by West Ham…..
Spunking the majority of our transfer funds on one young British midfielder only to sell another would be incredibly poor business. Together they could be our midfield of the future. However, I’ve said it before, I don’t think we will get Rice. I think he will go to Chelsea to play with his buddy MM and under Pochettino.
Would that be the same MM that is going to Man Utd ?
HE MUST be played in the CM roll in place of Xaka.
Personally, I feel ESR has had his break-out season and has earned his place. He hit double-figures in goals in the EPL from midfield; that is exceptional. He has a place in this team, he just needs to regain his form.
Manager needs to give him chance to play for at least 15 mins a match. Else, let him go if manager is not a good mentor but a good Guardiola understudy who have learnt the essence of buying & assemble a team. Give MA another 250 millions to assemble a title winning team.
I have ranted about MA not giving him enough playing time.
People that moan about Arteta not giving ESR game time last season need to cast their minds back a couple of seasons. Martinelli kept picking up niggling injuries. He then spent time on the bench, not getting any minutes. Last season the only games he missed through injury were the last 2 iirc.
I would say that Arteta knows better than the posters on here.
Part of the issue here of course is that it is up to the player to convince Arteta that they are fit and able to perform whenever they are called upon.
ESR has not been convincing when he has played. This may be because he had yet to regain full match fitness or form after his injury.
A number of fans however hold on to favouritism theories, blame the manager and make excuses for their own favoured players.
We all want to see Smith R succeed and play injury-free so we can better gauge his talent
Just read an article albeit a poor source being the Sun that states West Ham want him as part of the swap deal involving Declan Rice.
So if there is any truth in this he may not be an AFC player next season.
@IGL
He is not going anywhere…
ESR, what a wasted talent. I really liked him, but he is stuck in a rut at the moment.
Sadly, I think Arteta should sell him, or maybe send him out on Loan.
I believe his biggest problem is his lack of confidence.
Normally I would press for that loan move, but if he does not recover his form, his value may plummet.
I read that West Ham want ESR as part of the trade for Rice. If we could get $30m off of Rice’s prices I think we should do it.
Perhaps it is time to be ruthless.
Maybe then we could afford Caicedo!!