Video: Arteta is quizzed on Saka & Smith Rowe – ‘We have to do it’

Admin Pat

Arsenal's English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe (L) vies with Newcastle United's English midfielder Matty Longstaff during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 18, 2021. (Photo by Adam Davy / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADAM DAVY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta insists it hasn’t been easy to drop some ‘big players’ in favour of the young duo Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka, but ‘we have to do it’.

The manager adds that the players are all training hard, but Willian and Pepe will need to do more to break back into the team, but Smith Rowe and Saka are in form and deserve their place.

I struggle to see why either of Smith Rowe or Saka would be dropped unless they needed a rest after seeing them flourish in recent weeks.

Patrick