Arsenal transfer news: Fabrizio Romano issues Emile Smith Rowe update

Over the last few years, Emile Smith Rowe has developed into a real fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium. It's clear to see why as the Hale End graduate has always given his all and for a solid season, he was the best player in North London.

The young Englishman has struggled in recent seasons, though. In fact, for the last season and a half, Emile Smith Rowe has started just two Premier League matches. For context, he started 21 league matches in the previous season.

Mikel Arteta is definitely a big fan of Emile Smith Rowe but unfortunately, injury concerns have seen him fall further and further down the pecking order. Remaining a fan favourite, he often receives an ovation when he is brought into matches but this remains a rarity and he is very rarely brought into pressured matches, only when the Gunners find themselves a few goals up.

Therefore, transfer talk is BOUND to happen. After all, Smith Rowe could start for most Premier League teams but he has become surplus to requirements under Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal transfer news: Fabrizio Romano issues Emile Smith Rowe update

According to today's Arsenal transfer news from Fabrizio Romano (via Caught Offside), there is nothing concrete to report on Emile Smith Rowe's future right now. However, the Italian journalist and transfer expert does think that the decision will be made in the summer and it could depend on the game-time which ESR sees in the remaining games this season.

It goes without saying that Arsenal have some difficult fixtures remaining this season. They have two Champions League quarterfinal ties against Bayern Munich to address and, of course, the Premier League title run-in.

Unfortunately, I cannot see Emile Smith Rowe starting many of those games, if any. Hopefully, though, he is given time to prove himself from the bench. He is capable of making an impact and just needs a stroke a luck to get scoring again.

Where do you think Emile Smith Rowe will be next season?