Arsenal: 3 ways England could line up with Emile Smith Rowe

2. Smith Rowe as the No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1

Will Southgate go with this shape?

One thing that could encourage him to do so was the rather limp performance England put in last time out when they hosted Hungary at Wembley.

On that occasion it was Declan Rice as the single pivot, and the struggles England were having were calling out for an additional midfielder in there to have a base for runners beyond, but he didn’t change it. In the end the result was a 1-1 draw.

Against better opposition he could look to change that by reverting to a 4-2-3-1, which could see Sterling or Saka out on the right, and Foden wide on the left. Leaving the No. 10 vacated, there is scope to put Smith Rowe into the position he first started out at for the Arsenal first team.

Someone as clever as he is with his runs and movement, considering that England are set to see plenty of the ball on Friday there will always be room for interchanging in any case. However, starting out in the centre will see him be able to find the gaps in between Albania’s lines and receive on the half turn where he has the capacity to go either left or right of his marker.

A touch of guile in that area will be required and Smith Rowe can be the man to fill it.

Mock lineup: Pickford (should be Ramsdale); Walker, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell; Henderson, Bellingham, Saka, Smith Rowe, Foden; Kane

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