Arsenal: Emile Smith Rowe set for huge England boost vs Albania

A day everyone saw coming came around sooner than expected as Emile Smith Rowe was drafted in to the England squad to join fellow Arsenal teammates Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale in Gareth Southgate’s selections.

Four players had to pull out of from the original squad for a variety of reasons, prompting the Under-21 international to earn his first senior call-up.

It’s the just rewards for a player in the form of his life. Smith Rowe’s winning strike against Watford was his third goal in as many Premier League games, taking his tally of goal and assist contributions since September to six, more than any other English player during that time.

The Arsenal No. 10 has taken his game to a new level this season since signing a new contract, adding those vital goal and assist numbers to an already endearing overall package.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1458376006910291971

Arsenal forward Emile Smith Rowe set for huge England selection boost vs Albania with key absences and illnesses in Gareth Southgate’s squad

In terms of the stats from last season in the Premier League he has improve ten-fold in near all departments. Last season he averaged a goal every 0.12 matches, which is now up to 0.4, he is taking double the amount of shots at 1.61 p/90, nearly three times as many shots on target at 1.01, well more than double the amount of completed dribbles at 2.12, and his touches in the opposition box is up to 2.93.

Supporters thought they might have got a glimpse of this ability in action against San Marino on the final matchday of the World Cup qualifiers, but news coming out of the Three Lions camp may fast-track that to Friday’s home visit of Albania.

As per the Telegraph, more potential absences to key players could hand Smith Rowe a major boost in his goal of earning a maiden England cap.

Jadon Sancho was already omitted from the squad, with Mason Mount and fellow forward Marcus Rashford having since dropped out to recover from dental surgery and injury respectively. That has left Saka, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish available to fill the wide areas, but the latter is now said to be feeling ill and England aren’t keen on taking any risks.

To allow the Manchester City forward to recover, it opens up a void out on the left that could be the perfect chance for Smith Rowe to, if not start, at least come on in the Wembley showdown and earn his first senior minutes.

Furthermore, if Southgate opts for a 4-2-3-1 shape then Foden may well come into the No. 10 slot, in which case there are just three players vying for two wide areas.

Arsenal may be very well represented on Friday.