Emile Smith-Rowe was finally given a run out for 10 minutes in Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Crystal Palace, and was finally given a starting spot in Tuesday´s win at Forest, replacing Kai Havertz in our line-up. Havertz has shown promise lately, but his impact against the Eagles was minimal, and it appears that his integration into the team has not improved Arsenal’s efficiency up front.
With the title race hanging in the balance, it was time for Arteta to be bold and explore new possibilities, such as using Smith Rowe as the left-sided No. 8. The 23-year-old’s ability to advance the ball into the final third aligns perfectly with the requirements of the LCM role, bringing a refreshing dynamic to the team.
I understand that Arteta may be wary of rushing him straight back to 90 minutes in every game until he is truly match fit, but Arteta reserved special praise for Emile after the game, giving fans hope that we may be seeing our Academy graduate more often in future. Arteta told Arsenal.com after our narrow win: “I think everybody was at a really good level,”
“I’m really pleased with Emile as well because it’s been a long time since he had an opportunity to start a game. He’s been training really well, really sharp.”
And then the boss explained what was so impressive: “That he went for it, that he was free, he was flowing, he was moving, he was participating, his body language was good – he’s just a beautiful footballer to watch,” Mikel continued.
“I’m really pleased because he was really connected with the team and I thought he played the game in a really good way.”
So, after watching the Forest game, do you think Smith-Rowe should now get a regular starting spot and be picked again against Liverpool this weekend?
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