In the 2021-22 season, Emile Smith Rowe started 21 Premier League games for Arsenal and came on as a substitute on 12 occasions, playing 1,921 minutes in total. He jockeyed for position on the left wing with Gabriel Martinelli and it was a battle that, though reasonably even, he was winning.
Martinelli played 1,860 minutes in that campaign. Smith Rowe started on the left wing for the crunch game at St. James’ Park in May 2022 ahead of Martinelli. It was also the last time that Smith Rowe would start on the left flank for Arsenal. In the ensuing two seasons, Emile’s role has been reduced markedly, even when fit. So why?
I think the first thing to say is that I have always detected a little dispassion from Arteta to Smith Rowe, even when he was more of a feature in the team. Smith Rowe came into a team so bereft of natural number 10s that Lacazette and Willian were briefly repurposed for the role with predictably drab results.
Smith Rowe’s emergence into that position in late 2020 was a bit like being treated to a nice pizza after months of foraging for sticks and berries. However, that didn’t stop Arsenal from prioritising the signing of Martin Odegaard to play that main creator role. In isolation, that was not a particularly controversial choice either.
ESR was awarded a new contract in the summer of 2021 and took the number 10 shirt. Arteta’s comments at the time always struck me as a little aloof. ‘I prefer players who ask for more than maybe they can take but if they believe they can do it, don’t put a limit on it.’ Even at the time, the half admission that he didn’t feel Smith Rowe was ready for the number 10 shirt always caused me to cock an eyebrow north.
Smith Rowe was quickly moved to the left wing to allow Odegaard to take primacy. Of course, the Academy product underwent surgery after a promising 2021-22 season that saw him score 10 goals. That surgery made 2022-23 close to a write off for ESR but when he did return, it was clear…
Source link : https://arseblog.com/2024/06/emile-smith-quo/
Author : Tim Stillman
Publish date : 2024-06-13 12:00:43
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