Emile Smith Rowe's Arsenal problems summed up by Mikel Arteta comment
Mikel Arteta has admitted that Emile Smith Rowe is still some way off being able to complete a whole game for Arsenal.
Smith Rowe started his first Arsenal match in 499 days as the Gunners beat Brentford 1-0 in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. He impressed in midfield, outshining £65million summer signing Kai Havertz, to make an impact upon his long-awaited return to the starting line-up.
Having previously managed just 25 minutes across the first eight matches of the campaign, the 23-year-old played 82 minutes at Brentford before being replaced by Martin Odegaard. He should have marked the occasion with a goal, but could not beat Mark Flekken after dancing his way through the Bees’ defence.
Arteta was delighted with Smith Rowe’s performance, but sounded a note of caution about the midfielder’s fitness levels. “I think he had really good moments in the first half, and the game was much easier for him, the way he was developing with his qualities, and the game we started to play after five or ten minutes in the second half, and then after he was struggling more,” Arteta said.
“Physically, he’s still not there to play 90 minutes, we have to bear in mind that we have four or five players in that field and that was big concern for us today in the line-up, because we have seven at Colney that are not fit now.”
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Asked why he was substituted Arteta added: “He did [pick up a knock] but it wasn’t because of that, we had to manage his minutes. His load has seen a big spike in the last two weeks as well, and he was struggling to finish the game, the same with Reiss [Nelson].”
Emile Smith Rowe has struggled with injuries at Arsenal (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Can Emile Smith Rowe fight his way into Arsenal's first-choice starting XI this season? Comment below.
Smith Rowe played just 195 minutes across 14 substitute appearances last season due to his injury problems. It has therefore been a while since he made his breakthrough with 10 goals and two assists in the Premier League in 2021/22.
“He’s very versatile, you can see when he’s running with the ball, the capacity he’s got to combine in short spaces, arrive in the box,” Arteta said. “He’s got different qualities to the other attacking midfielders, he’s great to have him, we need him at his best, and now he’s starting to get some rhythm and minutes which is really good for the team.”
Reiss Nelson, who scored the game’s only goal early on, was asked to reflect on Smith Rowe’s 100th appearance for the club. He said: “I am really pleased, but I know he’s going to be upset because he done a nice bit of trickery in the box and should’ve scored a hundred percent, but he’s a great player, great lad and one of the best players I’ve played with, been through the whole rankings with him, so congrats on your 100th game mate!”
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