Arsenal: 5 huge successes from the January transfer window

3. Emile Smith Rowe

Not all players are created equal. And no player’s development is the same as any other. Gabriel Martinelli went straight to the first team. That’s great. That’s his thing. But not everyone is going to be like that.

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Emile Smith Rowe looked like he was going to be exactly that not all that long ago, but it turns out he is just missing a little extra bit of fine-tuning. With so many attacking players already blocking the way, Smith Rowe needed somewhere to emulate Premier League experience while still providing him consistent playing time.

Thus, Huddersfield. A team formerly in the Premier League, now trying to prevent a bottoming out that will see them dropped another division.

Smith Rowe arrived on January 10th and has started both matches at the No. 10 position since his arrival, playing 166 minutes. This is exactly what we need him to do. He’s playing English football in the position we most need him at and he is going to be allowed to sink or swim on his own merits.

Perfect. I don’t know what else to say about it. Just… perfect.

On to No. 2.