Emile Smith Rowe made his first start in a long time last week against Brentford (in the Carabao Cup). He shone in that game, and the hope was that he will continue to gain favour and game time. However, Arteta recently stated that we shouldn’t expect Smith Rowe to do more because he is still not ready to play a “full 90 minutes”.
That said, Gabby Agbanlahor believes Arteta does not trust Emile Smith Rowe, based on his treatment of him even while Bukayo Saka is injured.
“For one, he should have rested him [against Bournemouth], and two, he didn’t even bring him off as the first sub when they were up 3-0, said the ex-Premier League star on talkSPORT.
“He didn’t even bring him off first. It’s like, know your games, Bournemouth, you’re telling me [Emile] Smith Rowe, [Reiss] Nelson, these squad players aren’t good enough to come in and get the result.
“You know you’ve got Champions League; you’ve got the biggest game of the season against Manchester City, where you’re going to need your strongest side.
“Your best chance to beat Man City with the injuries they’ve got and the players not available.”
Smith Rowe, it appears, isn’t content with a limited role. According to FourFourTwo, our No. 10 is contemplating his long-term future at Arsenal and may seek to leave during the January transfer window.
Chelsea were interested in signing him last summer, but the deal fell through. We’ll have to wait and watch whether they come for him in the winter.
Many of us will be saddened to see the Hale End graduate leave, but don’t you think this was his make-or-break season? By January, it will be evident whether he has a chance to break into this Arsenal lineup.
Is he wasting his career on the bench, or do you think Arteta will trust him one day?
Darren N
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Cue the comments:
– he needs to fight for his place
– he’ll get game time, we in many competitions
– the manager has said he has plans for him
All of these ignore the reality that actions speak louder than words 🙂 your potential starting/dropped position in the team is not determined by form or what’s seen in training
Should have sold him to villa for the reported 30 million ,as it looks like he’s now fallen out of favour ,shame really as he was our top scorer only 2 seasons ago
Dan if I’m smith or a family member of his, I will advise him to look for club this January. I really don’t get why Arteta is treating him like this. How can anyone explain to me that Harvetz is good enough to play and Smith is not. Maybe someone can explain this to me.
Dan and Lenohappy, Arteta’s relative assessment of ESR and Havertz is beyond comprehensionto anybody but him.
Any player who has had public statements and commitments made about him, which his manager doesn’t keep, has no alternative but to trquest a transfer to pursue their career elsewhere. ESR has, as stated, gone from top scorer 2 seasons ago to not good enough for selection.
Arsenal have given him time to come back from his surgery and he is picking up game time. I would be amazed If he makes that decision in January but he would have think about it next summer id things are not going well for him.
Arteta should start Smith-Rowe against Man City.
Jesus.
Trossard. Odegaard. Nelson.
Smith-Rowe. Rice.
Tomiyasu. Gabriel. Saliba. White.
Raya.
I would love ESR to spend his career at Arsenal and become a top player. However, if he doesn’t get playing time and become a first team regular then I wouldn’t blame him for moving elsewhere. If he does move, I hope he makes it as a top player at another premier club and his career isn’t blighted by injury.
If he plays well in some Carabao/ FA Cup games and if Havertz does nothing special in the upcoming EPL matches, he’d likely become a starter in EPL
Therefore, he’ll need to seize the chance to play in the minor competitions. He shouldn’t get a long-term injury as Timber and Tierney did
GAI, in what timeframe?
There’ll be Carabao and FA Cup games soon
Gai, I honestly think the gaffer’s rigidity in certain ways won’t be his undoing in certain games. ESR don’t need much to prove to be a regular starter by now he was full of energy in his cameo against Lens in France. EPL is becoming more competitive to be even in top5. Selection should be based on performance if Arsenal is to go far this season. I don’t think sentimental preference on certain players will help Arsenal ambition.
Arteta used to bench Martinelli for a long time, even though Martinelli had fully recovered from his long-term injury. Martinelli trained hard for the LW role and was gradually taking it from Smith-Rowe
Smith-Rowe should show his productivity in the minor competitions, then maybe Arteta will play him in EPL or UCL
If he was my kid I would have encouraged him to join Aston Villa, but he would value anywhere in the region of £100 next year at Brighton.
He still looks sharp and may finally get another bite at the cherry with Arsenal
A manager picks the team, he thinks will do best.
Obviously, so far this season Arteta has not included ESR in his best team.
He not only sees ESR and the rest everyday in training, he also has at his disposal various technical monitoring instruments to measure speed, strength and stamina etc.
I am sure, Arteta has a better basis to pick a team than any armchair manager.
Whether ESR will improve and get a starting position or he will never quite make it at Arsenal remains to be seen.
Should he decide not keep on trying, then I wish him the best, wherever he goes.
AndersS, what incentive has EST got to keep trying, given as an England age representative he would get playing time at most other clubs.
As Gunsmoke says, if he was on Brighton’s books they would be asking similar money to what they have received for their other midfielders.
As neither you nor I know exactly where and how much he would play in his current form, most is guesswork.
But from the standpoint, that he is currently almost good enough to start for us, he would probably get a starting position for a team, where there aren’t as much competition for the position(s) he can play.
Let us for arguments sake say, he would get a starting position at a middle of the table club. It can become his choice to go there, or stay and try at Arsenal. Whatever is most attractive for him.
I don’t believe in any rubbish about him being treated unfairly by Arteta. Arteta picks the team, he thinks will do best, and ESR will get into the starting eleven, if he is the better option for the team. All very simple, I think.
A considered and sensible comment. If ESR remains injury free he will likely get much more game time this season than last. If he then continues to prove his quality and fitness he will get further opportunities.
I saw your name and I knew you were going to defend his exclusion even before reading your post.
Not sure where the “exclusion” is coming from though cos he’s been getting 20 plus minutes per game in the league and CL lately. except if you don’t consider subs as part of a team.
Okay let’s make it “his exclusion from starting line up” even though it’s beside the point I was making on that post.
“Arteta picks the team, he thinks will do best”
Exactly. But that does not mean the team he chose is doing the best.
His thoughts are not heavenly revelations or absolute right. What he think might be wrong and that is what others are pointing out.
If we are struggling, not convincing in our performances or losing games it means his thoughts and ideas are wrong and not working, which is what others are pointing out.
He chose Havertz and Raya instead of ESR, Trossard or Vieira and he benched Gabriel to play Partey out of position. He overplays Saka when it’s clear to everyone he need a rest. The result is we underperform and lost a game.
In his mind he think he is doing what is best for the team but is it working as intended?
If his thoughts are unquestionable as you are making them to be shouldn’t we be winning every game?
To answer Darren’s question Arteta trust him already. you gus have to change your mindset on substitutes or rotation players, they are vital part of the team. Emile’s time will come naturally.
Problem is we have seen enough to suggest that ESR is better than Havertz, and we dont understand at this stage why the latter is being favoured by our coach.
Arteta has a point to prove with Havertz, how else would you explain his “showcase” comments about Havertz and no one else?
I’m sure ESR, Kiwor, and Balogun would have enjoyed being “showcased” to display their talent and commitment, alas was not meant to be.
He can try selling and showcasing Havertz, but based on form ESR has shown more recently than Havertz. Against Bournmouth alone, ESR came in and found dangerous positions and had 2 good shots on goal.
👍Durand
As his contract is until mid 2026 it’s not really up to him to “find a new club in January”, it’s whether Arsenal want to sell him, which I don’t think they will as he’s a valuable member the squad. I’m sure he will get more game time and prove his worth (if he has to) and start more games. He does seem to love a Arsenal.
I would think by now ESR knows where he stands with Arteta.
He needs to leave in January if he is to have any kind of career in football.
I believe he can leave, if he hands in a written Transfer Request.
He will forfeit any monies he would get from the transfer, but he will have forcefully stated his desire to leave.
Then he and his agent need to make sure Arteta doesn’t dump him with a nothing club. I think he could prosper at Villa or perhaps Brighton!
If he wants to be a successful footballer, he needs to go to a team/manager that can utilise his talent. Sitting on the bench getting cameo appearances, will not improve him.
👍Spot on, Reggie.
ESR was a valuable team member before injuries and has taken a while to get back. Doing well in the U21’s isn’t the same thing as Rice and Saka who start for Southgate every time.
I think it’s up to him to force his way back into being a starter and whilst he did do well coming on, he didn’t convert that into scoring. I think it’s broadly similar to the Ramsdale situation. Arteta is loyal to a point. Same applies to KH. Too many more uninspired performances and he will be dropped (the only difference between both players is that one is still getting to grips with his new club and the other is a known quantity) Or to put it another way, one cost that much money that he has to be given a bit more time to do better
ESR, although fully recovered may need ‘managing’ to avoid a breakdown.