Arsenal’s 4 biggest surprises so far this season

Emile Smith Rowe Losing His Place in the Team

Netting his first Premier League goal of the season with a strike against Tottenham that was all the technique and movement that Arteta had wanted of him, Emile Smith Rowe had arrived as the new Arsenal No. 10.

Owning that left side of the attack, he would go on to notch another five goal involvements in his following eight league matches, quickly rising to the top of the Gunners’ top scoring charts and and earning a maiden England senior call up.

Tipped to be the breakout star this season, he was living up to that potential by adding end product and physicality to his game. Just like last season, he was undroppable.

One niggling injury pre-Everton changed that. Gabriel Martinelli came into the team in his stead, and the Brazilian has gone on to start all-but one Premier League game since. Smith Rowe, meanwhile, has started only twice.

Yet even when he was on the bench he still managed to find the back of the net, including a run of three in three substitute appearances, and also scored what proved to be the winning goal against Brentford.

He remains brilliant and ever improving, but earlier in the season if someone had suggested he would lose his place to Martinelli there would have been eyebrows raised. The Brazilian couldn’t get a sniff and Smith Rowe’s perch was one he couldn’t be knocked off.

All of this, of course, is healthy. So healthy. Finally there is fierce competition between players who can both contribute in their own ways, and the future is bright.