Arsenal: Smith Rowe chances of England call-up boosted

Never in most peoples’ lifetimes have England been this spoilt for options in the national team. Gareth Southgate is inundated with talent in almost every department and Arsenal stars are starting to make it even tougher than it was.

The entire Arsenal team has been performing to a level higher than previously seen under Mikel Arteta, with defensive steel and midfield stability key features along the way. But it’s impossible to look at the form of the side without singling out Emile Smith Rowe for praise.

He deserves to be in the upcoming England international squad.

Five goal involvements in his last five Premier League matches, as well as a maiden England Under-21 goal in the most recent round of international fixtures, have made him increasingly hard to ignore. No English forward other than Jamie Vardy has more goal involvements in the Premier League this season.

Arsenal forward Emile Smith Rowe’s England call-up chance earns boost with Jesse Lingard & Jadon Sancho set to miss out

Such form can’t go unnoticed and the quality of opposition the Three Lions are set to face over the coming two fixtures make a call-up for Smith Rowe even more logical. Albania and San Marino aren’t dead rubbers, as England want four points to secure top spot in their World Cup qualifiers, but they’re matches even the weakest of England teams should brush past comfortably.

As per the Daily Mail, the chances of Smith Rowe being involved have been boosted by the poor form of other more regular squad members: Jesse Lingard and Jadon Sancho were both involved in the previous set of international fixtures but have just one start between them for Manchester United since.

Sancho is a fantastic example of baffling recruitment outside of north London: two years spent chasing someone you eventually spend £70m on to then play a system not suited to him and completely ignore his presence. Genius stuff.

Anyway, those two are likely to be dropped, opening the door for Smith Rowe is swoop in. But it wouldn’t be off the back of someone else’s struggles. Is there really another wide forward in the country in better form than him at the moment?

Smith Rowe isn’t in a place to be taking Jack Grealish’s shirt off him, obviously, but if Southgate is looking to integrate him into the group at the best possible time then there is no better occasion than the two coming matches. Rewarding those in form hands Smith Rowe a spot in the squad at the very least.

His chances have never been better and, if selected, he will link up with the senior group for the first time after taking on Watford at home.