From Arteta’s comments and different claims, some might say Emile Smith-Rowe’s short-term future at Arsenal is set and the boss says he’s not going anywhere.
But, according to Alex Crook, there is a chance Arsenal will receive a bid for Smith Rowe. He claims the Hale End graduate has a genuine suitor who would leap at the chance to sign him. Aston Villa is this suitor’s name.
The Unai Emery-led team made a £25 million bid to sign the playmaker in 2021, but Arsenal turned it down and ended up granting the 23-year-old a new contract and giving him the No. 10 jersey. Smith Rowe was a hit at the time, and he was progressively working his way into Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup. Unfortunately, after promising in the 2021–22 season, he has struggled to break into the Arsenal lineup due to injuries. There were rumors that he may leave this winter, but nothing has come of it. Nonetheless, Crook believes Arsenal would face a difficult decision if a Villa bid for Smith Rowe arrives.
“Arsenal might have to move a couple of players out to get players in. There’s interest in Mohamed Elneny from Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and they’d cash in on Thomas Partey if they could, given his injury record and the fact he’s on good wages,” said Crooks, addressing possible Arsenal winter exits.
“I’m keen to see what they do with Smith Rowe because I think Aston Villa’s interest is still there.”
With Arsenal’s need to sell to recruit, I have a feeling Smith Rowe won’t be assured to stay if a reasonable offer arrives. It is sometimes best to know when to sell because that opportunity may never come again.
Do you think Arsenal should listen to offers if any come in?
Darren N
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For ESR sake I hope so, will always support our academy players!
For the sake of English football, yes. A great talent is wasted on the bench and worse still will be his confidence when he gets 3 minutes of game time when we needed someone to work a magical pass for a goal. I do not see our manager effectively using him. Good for English football, good for the lad, good for the buying club and good for us, we will end up with some 10-15M as we are good to devalue our players. Lets add that to another 30M and get a Viera type player.
And when facts are discussed, some call us “trolls”.
NO, NO NO !!!
Arsenal can sell ESR if Aston Villa are ready to sell Douglas Luize to us in exchange. It’s unthinkable to sell to villa who are currently above us on the table without a best deal with them.
Too good a player to sell, get Arteta to play him more and hopefully we will see the player we know he can be
I agree Perry.As an aside, I prefer Kamara to Douglas Louiz.
Thanks Perry, I really don’t understand why Arteta wants to sell him, his got a great potential.
Yes, but not just from Aston Villa, Arsenal should accept any reasonable bid from Brighton too,
A keep saying if Smith Rowe end up at a club like Brighton, would not in any be suprise the Seagulls touting £100 mil for his service in a year time
Have seen them done with less talented players.
👍Gunsmoke
no
ESR has talent and can add to this squad, e.g. goals, he was quite clinical 2 seasons back
youth, talent, academy, giving young players an opportunity, grow and develop your game – all part of the Arsenal identity that makes Arsenal special and different from the rest (under Wenger anyway) and I would love ESR to be the latest poster boy for that
selling him now might prove the opposite
Villa are decent, had a decent run of form, top half yes, top 4 no, title rival no – league table position on 15th Jan means nothing, as an Arsenal fan you should know this better than anyone
Reluctantly I would say yes. For all the praise Arteta gives him in the media, he obviously does not give him enough chances. I would accept reasonable offers for Nelson, Viera, Lokonga and Tavares as well.
For a player like this to have the ineffective Havertz and almost non-existent Vieira ahead of him is shocking. Getting 3 mins in games is never a good thing for any player, let alone a young and very talented England international.
For his own sake, he should go there if an offer arrives from there. Emery knows how to get the best out of players, especially young ones.
Remember Emery’s handling of Saka, Martinelli, Guendouzi and Willock. I imagine what he will do with Smith Rowe. I hate to say this, but our current manager is way off Emery’s league
👍dgr8xt
@dgr8xt
RealTalk. You should have put this in all caps for those in the cheap seats…👏🏾 Jus sayin
It’s utterly ridiculous that he hasn’t been given more chances…Yes he’s been injury prone over the last 18 months but surely he merits more than a couple of minutes at the end of a game that’s already lost…If Arteta doesn’t rate him then he should have been sold already…The longer he is kept at the Club just sitting on the bench the more his transfer value falls. So I congratulate Arteta and Edu managing to reduce the saleability of another Arsenal asset at a time when we need to be thinking of realising such assets .
If we sell ESR now, we’ll live to regret it. The boy hasn’t been allowed to settle back in the team following his injury. He’s always thrown in when the team is in trouble, rushed and pressured. Why can’t he be treated like the likes of Havertz? What’s Havertz got on Smith-Rowe? He’s not even close in terms of skill, but of course he’s the “Spanish delight” for Arteta.
Havertz cost £65m…earns over £220k per week and was Arteta’s choice…A vanity project which hasn’t fulfilled potential by any stretch of the imagination.Arteta’s far too stubborn to give up on Havertz at this stage but when push comes to shove he could end up getting him sacked.Whereas the misuse and poor treatment of ESR won’t cause Arteta any sleepless nights.
I really like ESR, but it makes zero sense to ignore a good offer for him because he’s forever injured. He maybe be back now, but it’s only a matter of time until he breaks down again..
I’ll bet anything he’ll be injured again before the end of the season.
If he isn’t really in MA’s plans then he needs to be sold.
Sello him because Arteta is not prepared to play him. Why are we looking for Central midfielders when he or Zinchenko can play the trick?
Sometimes the coach just doesn’t know what he wants. Look at Patino. All these plays can walk into the first 11 of many top teams.
Please sell him
👍Atangana, what a waste of ESR warming the bench.
YES.
He needs to be saved from himself.
If he stays he will continue to languish on the bench.
Villa might be just the place for him to restart his career.
I think Ramsdale needs to move on too.
West Ham might be a good spot for him to land.
Arteta has done nothing for either of these two players recently, and I cannot see that situation changing any time soon!!!!
If they leave my best wishes would go with them!!!
Either ESR or Vieira will go in the summer
pointless having them both hanging around
If only a bid come in
For me, it would depend on the player. If a good bid comes in, and the player wants to go, I’d say yes.
Arteta has said that much several times. That ESR will get his chances, but if he desired to leave, well…….
ESR is one of our most talented Academy players. He can play multiple positions across the midfield and on the wings. It is indeed sad he is not getting enough game time. If this continues, it is better for the player that he leaves to some other team where his talent and hard work is appreciated. Also, Arsenal could use the money to get another central midfielder.
Showcase his talents on the field, allowing fans to understand Arteta’s decision to prioritize Havertz over him.