Arsenal: 3 reasons Emile Smith Rowe the only replacement needed

2. We don’t need to depend on the No. 10

One thing that was frustrating for those last few weeks of the season before the pause was that Mesut Ozil was starting every single match at the No. 10 position. Mikel Arteta was deadset on a 4-2-3-1, which unfortunately relies on a No. 10 to hold the attack together and serve as the fulcrum between middle and attack.

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Ozil has not been effective at this job, in case you haven’t noticed, and it’s made many people finally conclude that we don’t need a No. 10 at all. Or if we do, we need someone vastly different.

If Ozil is counted out for the future, which he should have already been, and thus replaced by Emile Smith Rowe, that necessity to always have a No. 10 dwindles. If Smith Rowe needs time to grow into the senior side, that’s perfectly fine. We won’t be reeling from any lack of production. Instead, we’ll be used to it, from Ozil’s last couple years at the role.

Not just that, but given Smith Rowe’s work ethic, he could conceivably play a more traditional central midfield role, thus even further lessening our reliance on that pesky No. 10 role.

All in the name of getting past Mesut Ozil. Finally, No. 1.