Arteta has given Smith Rowe a new approach but now he faces biggest Arsenal test
Emile Smith Rowe has already overcome huge “challenges” - and now faces his biggest battle to convince Mikel Arteta.
Gunners midfielder Smith Rowe, 23, admits he has been plagued by self doubt in the past as he has struggled with injuries, form and confidence. But Smith Rowe says he has a new approach to just “go for it” to go with a stronger mentality which he has gained in the past 12 months after battling back after groin surgery.
Smith Rowe says Arteta has helped him have more faith in himself but now it is his turn to make sure the Arsenal manager believes in him. England international Smith Rowe said: “I have changed a bit of my mentality - just to go for it. I have not really got anything to lose. I have tried to change that inside me.
“I used to have a lot of doubts. I used to question my confidence at times. But now I am really strong, I am feeling really fit and I am taking that into now. I really believe in myself now. I have got all the right people around me helping me - my family, my friends and everyone at the club is always willing to help every day in training and off the pitch. I have just got to keep going, keep believing and I am sure the chances will come.
“I think the gaffer has really helped me with that. He was helping me through my injury and often pulled me for chats about how I can be mentally stronger, stuff like that. It has definitely made me stronger in that department. Coming back and not quite getting back into the team, I have had to stay strong in my head and try and stay as positive as I can.”
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Emile Smith Rowe impressed for Arsenal in their victory over Brentford (Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)Smith Rowe is adored by the Arsenal fanbase as the club’s homegrown No. 10 but, incredibly, made his first start for the club in 499 days in the Carabao Cup win at Brentford. Arteta did not do business on Smith Rowe in the summer despite interest from Chelsea and Aston Villa but now it is down to the player to get his career back on track by carving out a regular starting place.
Smith Rowe, who played in England under-21s’ victorious European Championship campaign in the summer, said: “Obviously it has been a long time since I started. It was definitely a relief for me. It has been a hard last 499 days, like you said, with injuries and stuff and not quite getting back into the team. But I am really happy to be fully fit now and I am just going to push on from here.
“I have just got to stay patient, keep working hard in training. There is a lot of stuff I have been trying to work on in training, my positioning and stuff like that. He (Arteta) has been helping me a lot. It has been a challenge for me, but I am really enjoying it.
“It was a really tough period - having surgery for the first time and then having another setback once I got back onto the pitch. But this is football, you have got to face these challenges. You have ups and downs.
“I feel like I am a lot stronger and fitter now. But it was really challenging for me and I am just happy I have come out the other side really fit, and I have just got to keep fighting, keep trying to work hard in training.”
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