Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor believes Emile Smith Rowe should consider joining the Midlands side because he is not in the plans of Mikel Arteta.
Smith Rowe has been struggling to break back inside the Gunners team since he returned from his latest injury layoff and the midfielder is a target for the Villans.
Arsenal has a number of quality midfielders in their squad now, which makes it much harder for Smith Rowe to earn a role in the team again and the Englishman might need to leave.
Unai Emery wants a reunion with him and Arsenal must make a decision on his future in the summer.
Agbonlahor believes he is not in Arsenal’s plans and should leave to replace Philippe Coutinho at Villa.
He tells Football Insider: “I think he’d be a top signing.
“He wouldn’t be a starter, that’s for sure.
“But he’s someone who can come in and replace Coutinho when he leaves this summer, and also challenge Buendia for a place.”
Adding: “He’s been on the bench for a lot of games and hasn’t been brought on at Arsenal. That shows me that he’s not part of Arteta’s plans.
“It’ll be hard for them to get rid of him, but he’s not at the level of where Arsenal want to go.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
Smith Rowe is one of our finest academy graduates and has simply been unfortunate with injuries.
The way football works, when you are out of action for a while, it becomes harder for you to get back into the team again.
Hopefully, he will get more chances to prove his worth before this season ends.
Arteta proud of our comeback after Arsenal 3-3 Southampton
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There may be some truth in that but I cannot see MA releasing a promising acaademy graduate.
I really cannot understand how Vieira starts ahead of him but don’t think he’s done in Arteta’s plans, perhaps not totally ready yet. I’ll be bloody disappointed if he is!
I just got the emergency alert, it said ‘spurs are sh*t’.
Blimey! Id take that phone back and complain that it is fifty years out of date already. Spuds have been s..t for most of my long life, already.
No serious football fan who is not a gullible Villa fan, like Agbonlahor is, can possibly believe that ESR, brought up at Arsenal since a very small boy and still to fully regain PROPER match fitness, will even give a first thought, let alone a second one, to going to Villa.
Just more Agbonlahor stupidity,so move. on, nothing to see here.
ESR is not in Artetas plans for next season. Nor this !!!!!