Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe Transfer Stance is Spot On

Arsenal have made plans to nurture Emile Smith Rowe’s development.

With just four Premier League starts to his name, three coming in the last three Arsenal matches, the hype around Emile Smith Rowe is immeasurable.

And so it should be, he’s been superb throughout the most recent trio of results. You can’t help but wonder how the matches against Chelsea, Brighton and West Brom would have turned out had he not have featured. Of course, it’s all hypothetical.

Even with that in mind, if you’re searching for pivotal reasons behind Arsenal’s upturn in form, and crucially performances, the role Smith Rowe has played in the nine-point streak is front and centre.

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I, like many others, have been screaming out for profiles to push established names to one side. No more square pegs in round holes simply down to the individual’s longevity in the game. It’s a method that ceases only to weaken your managerial credentials and cause disruption elsewhere.

Smith Rowe has come into the fold with the exact skillset one needs to forge more incisive passages of play in advanced areas. All of a sudden, Arsenal have someone capable of drifting into space and playing triangles up through the thirds. A player whose movement is measured and penetrative.

Of course, Smith Rowe is so much more than simply ‘a No. 10’, and all of the elements one could asked for in a player of his position are being performed to the highest standard. Sometimes, he needn’t do anything to have an impact on the game. Just being there can be effective. This isn’t to say Smith Rowe drifts out of matches, only exemplifying how important playing profiles for certain job roles can be.

With January upon Mikel Arteta and his side, the need for reinforcements remains just as strong. Yes, Smith Rowe has proven himself to be more than capable at Premier League level, but to ask a 20-year-old with just four league starts to his name to bear the creative mantle in three competitions and with a questionable injury record behind him is putting your eggs into one poorly woven basket. It’s a huge risk.

As has been revealed by David Ornstein on The Athletic YouTube channel, Arsenal have set out their plan for Smith Rowe’s development, and it’s a wise one.

Help Must Arrive for Emile Smith Rowe

If before the Chelsea match took place the question was asked whether Arsenal could survive the season without a creative addition in January, not one soul would’ve nodded in agreement.

Three matches later, and Smith Rowe has suddenly seen those plans shelved. Arsenal fans are an easily enamoured bunch, not least when it’s Hale End involved. And, in an ideal world, if Smith Rowe could stay fit (big if) for the rest of the season, then rather than acquiring a second or third-choice option in January, waiting until the summer for the target who will benefit the long-term wouldn’t be too disheartening.

But it’s too much of a risk to take.

"“At this moment in time Arsenal see Smith Rowe ideally as being back up support, competition for a world class number 10,” Ornstein said. “Filling in where necessary, learning off of them and eventually succeeding them.”"

https://twitter.com/emilesmithrowe/status/1345507252132864000

Smith Rowe’s Gunners career is only in its infancy. While the feeling within the club is that he will become a fully fledged Premier League starter in the long-term, the reason he is playing now is down to him being the only option available. If there was a prime 2014 Mesut Ozil kicking about, he wouldn’t be in the team.

That is not to say he hasn’t deserved his place. Far from it.

However, Arsenal need bodies in that area. Established, top-level ones at that. Some of the names they’re looking for in this window are on their list, but far from the number one candidates they’re looking for.

Christian Eriksen and Isco? Have a word.

Nobody can be blamed for jumping on the hype train without a ticket: Smith Rowe is a wonderful talent and will continue to be one for years to come. Realism has to come into play, though.

Obtaining said ‘world class No. 10’ is what will prove trickiest of all. Firstly since money is tight, secondly as there aren’t many available and finally because they need to be the right profile of person, not just player, that will fit in the group and be someone that Smith Rowe can thrive under.

What we can be certain of is that Smith Rowe will play an integral part of Arsenal over the coming seasons and beyond. He’s earned it, it’s just about nurturing him accordingly.