Arsenal duo Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah called up for England Under-21 Euros

Arsenal pair Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah have been selected for the England U21 squad in the upcoming European Championships. There is no place in the squad for Reiss Nelson or Joe Willock.

This year’s Under-21 Euros sees the group stage and knockout stage held separately, rather than as just one summer finals.

The group stage involves 16 nations between 24-31 March with the four group winners and four runners-up qualifying for the knockout phase, which will be jointly hosted by Hungary and Slovenia from 31 May to 6 June 2021.

Following fixtures against Olympiacos and West Ham, Arsenal and the rest of the Premier League embark on a two-week break as players jet off across the world for international fixtures, and in a period where Emile Smith Rowe would have had some welcome rest, he is now due to play in the three group stage fixtures the Three Lions are facing.

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Arsenal duo Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah called up for England Under-21 European Championships while Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson miss out

Eddie Nketiah will also earn minutes as the nation’s all-time highest goalscorer for the Under-21 side, but his lack of playing time with the first-team means his involvement is more welcome from a selfish perspective than Smith Rowe’s. The duo will face Switzerland, Portugal and Croatia in the space of a week.

Seeing any player, let alone academy stars, earn call-ups for their respective national teams is special. It’s a source of huge pride for footballers to represent their countries and while supporters would’ve preferred Smith Rowe to have a rest period, nobody will not be beaming from ear to ear for the 20-year-old. His outstanding form richly warrants his maiden international call-up.

Putting in his best display in an Arsenal shirt in the 2-1 win over Tottenham on Sunday, that performance was one he’s been building towards ever since making his first Premier League outing of the season against Chelsea on Boxing Day.

As for Nketiah, even if he isn’t in the senior picture at Arsenal, his superb scoring record for the Three Lions can’t be overlooked. Not only that, he regularly captains the side.

Sadly for Nelson and Willock, there is no place for them. Nelson has faded out of the picture entirely so there is no great surprise, while Willock has not played for the England Under-21’s since November 2019.