Arsenal: So what’s going on with Emile Smith Rowe?

Emile Smith Rowe is gradually returning to fitness. But as the European transfer deadline looms, what will happen with the Arsenal academy graduate?

The Arsenal youth movement under Unai Emery is well on its way. Reiss Nelson has started two of three Premier League games this season. Joe Willock has started all three, as have Matteo Guendouzi, who is only 20, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, another Hale End graduate.

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The Gunners always said that they would commit to young players — it was a key reason why Emery was hired to replace Arsene Wenger over other options. And now it seems that they are doing — remember, there is still Hector Bellerin, Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding to return to the team, all of whom were either developed at the club or are still in the learning phase of their careers.

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But there is one player who has missed out on this injection of youthful vigour so far this season. Emile Smith Rowe spent the second half of last season on loan at RB Leipzig. With Arsenal out of the FA Cup and the Europa League group stages having ended, Smith Rowe’s playing opportunities were set to dwindle over the final few months of the year. As such, a loan to a first division renowned for their player development seemed wholly sensible.

Sadly, though, Smith Rowe was consistently injured. A groin strain early in his time there was later replaced by an adductor problem. All in all, he played just three Bundesliga matches, none of which were starts, spanning just 28 minutes. And so, Smith Rowe returned to north London desperately needing to get fit and get playing.

While senior-match sharpness is still avoiding the 19-year-old, he is now at least fit. He has played three Premier League 2 games for the Arsenal under 23s this season, featuring in 165 minutes of action in total. He also scored a wonderful solo goal against Brighton and Hove Albion, slaloming his way past a series of helpless defenders before smashing a finish into the roof of the net. However, he missed the whole of the pre-season as he recovered his fitness and is still yet to feature in the senior squad, despite his young counterparts flourishing.

Moreover, amid concerns about his game time should he remain in north London, another loan deal, this time for the full season, has been considered. But the European window shuts on Monday, September 2nd, and given that the English window has already been and gone, he would have to move abroad. Consequently, as the deadline nears and reports stay quiet, it becomes increasingly likely that he will remain at the Emirates.

And so, there is a very obvious and yet extremely important question to ask here: What is actually going on with Smith Rowe? Does Emery have a plan for his usage throughout the season? Has a loan been attempted or did he need to prove his fitness beforehand? Could he replicate the path of Willock, Nelson and Maitland-Niles to first-team football?

There is an argument to be made that Smith Rowe is the most talented of them all. But he needs a very clear, well-defined and progressive path put before him, because, at present, uncertainty reigns, and that is never helpful for a young player’s development.