Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe conundrum

After breaking into the starting lineup on Boxing Day of 2020, Emile Smith Rowe has looked like a star in the making.

He was rewarded with a new contract and the number 10 shirt for the Gunners but following the permanent arrival of Martin Ødegaard, there has been less play as a #10 for the England international. However, he has performed admirably when deployed on the left flank. According to transfermarkt.com, eight of Smith Rowe’s 11 goals last season were scored when utilised out wide.

He and Gabriel Martinelli at this point in time are looking to continue competing for the LW role for Arsenal. Does Smith Rowe’s future lie on the wing, though? Despite not playing there often last season, the interior is the place that many would argue fits him the best. In Arsenal’s 2-0 opening day loss to Brentford, the young Englishman was the bright spot in the match playing in the number 10 role he broke into the team as.

Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe conundrum

Mikel Arteta wants to transition the Gunners into a 4-3-3 team without a bonafide #10.

Ødegaard has flourished as a right-sided #8, combining beautifully with Bukayo Saka. When paired with the Norwegian as a fellow #8, we are yet to see a convincing performance from Smith Rowe and the midfield as a whole has struggled with the holding midfielder often left isolated in defensive transition.

The configuration which includes Smith Rowe and Ødegaard as #8s is Arteta’s attempt to mimic Manchester City’s “free eights” dynamic that allows the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva to wreak havoc from the half-spaces in the final third. Arsenal aren’t quite there yet.

Ødegaard and Smith Rowe are very different profiles of midfielders; Smith Rowe is not nearly as creative of a player as Ødegaard is and his skills come more from ball striking, carrying, and receiving the ball. This makes him a pretty good fit for the wing as he’s shown, but Smith Rowe has also proved that he can be an excellent interior player.

With the club bringing in Fabio Vieira there is now a profile depth for Ødegaard and the rumours of Youri Tielemans and others for the left-sided #8 position lead me to think that Smith Rowe’s Arsenal future does lie on the wing – in the short-term, at least.

His attributes fit both roles but he could be behind superior options in the pecking order come game week one against Crystal Palace.

What do you think? Where does Emile’s future lie for the club?