Ian Wright has praised Mikel Arteta for how he has managed the career of Emile Smith Rowe and said the Spaniard has helped Arsenal to avoid another Serge Gnabry situation.
Smith Rowe has been one of Arsenal’s best talents from their academy in recent years.
The Gunners have sanctioned his loan move away from the club on two occasions, firstly to RB Leipzig and then to Huddersfield Town, however, they have never considered selling him.
They also followed a similar pattern with Gnabry, but they eventually sold the German and he has now made them regret selling him.
Instead of keeping Smith Rowe on the sidelines until he leaves the club, Arteta has trusted him with first-team minutes and he has repaid the faith with some eye-catching performances.
Wright has enjoyed watching Smith Rowe play for the Gunners, and he praised Arteta for bringing the midfielder into the team at the right time.
‘It must be brilliant going into training at the moment for someone like Emile Smith Rowe,’ ex-Arsenal striker Wright said on Ringer FC’s Wrighty’s House podcast as quoted by The Metro.
‘He’s somebody who has had his injuries, he’s gone on loan, he’s done his stuff. For me, Emile Smith Rowe has paid his dues out there, waiting for his chance.
‘I think that what Mikel has done now, the timing with which he’s done it, is absolutely perfect because I think if Emile Smith Rowe doesn’t get into this team, at this stage, and they carry on doing what they’re doing and persisting with people who are not performing at the levels they should – whether it’s Willian or [Nicolas] Pepe – I think you lose him.
‘Especially with January coming and then we’ve got a Serge Gnabry on our hands.’
Sorry to go OT, but another semi-final defeat for Ole and his Mancs 😄
Come on City, spank those spuds!! I can’t believe the spuds have made it to a final *pass out*
Meanwhile the club can’t resign Balogun so far because Arteta favors giving less talented Nketiah chances over Balogun.
The young man is so calm and composed with the ball while Nketiah acts like a deer in headlights when he gets the ball.
And you wonder why soccer players are mercenaries.. Go figure
Come on Arteta you did on time to give Smith-Rowe his chances so we are waiting to see Balogun in the first team sheet before it’s too late because these young players represents the value of the club and Arsenal’s DNA like saka and smith rowe does I am sure the young players will fight for badge till their last breath rather than William and I would be happier to see Pepe in Arsenal shirt more often because the guy s talent.
If he signs a new deal loan him to Swansea for 6months to return to the main squad In the summer should be the arrangement.
Or we play him from now until the end of the season and see how he gets on &he might sign a new deal. Just like Saka did when liverpool were at him too but he committed.
Get this young man tied up asap.
‘He’s somebody who has had his injuries, he’s gone on loan, he’s done his stuff. For me, Emile Smith Rowe has paid his dues out there, waiting for his chance.
These words should be sounded to Saliba fans
I hate how everyone talks about gnabry like we didn’t just give any chance and he left. He did get his chance to play then got injured and had fitness issues before refusing a new contract. People also forget balogun isn’t the 1st next big thing we had coming through the academy and there is no guarantee he actually succeeds. I do believe he needs to get game time over nketiah.
2 monumental mistakes letting Gnabry and Scezency slip through our fingers after learning their trade at Arsenal. Imagine if we had them in our 11 right now we would be in champions league for sure
nice one arteta ride on