After the pressure-cooker of a game against Manchester City over the weekend, Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Luton Town on Wednesday night was much more straightforward.
It was around this time last season that Mikel Arteta watched his team crumble and lose out on the Premier League title to Pep Guardiola’s side.
Yes, on paper, Arsenal should be winning these types of games comfortably, but the fact of the matter is, they didn’t last season.
Therefore, it’s a step in the right direction for the team as they secured a comfortable three points and a clean sheet to move top of the Premier League table – Liverpool can overtake them if they beat Sheffield United on Thursday night.
Arteta made several changes to his XI, with next week’s Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich in mind.
The likes of Thomas Partey, Reiss Nelson, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Emile Smith Rowe and Leandro Trossard came into the XI.
Ian Wright lauded the performance of Smith Rowe and how he had a part to play in both of Arsenal’s goals, as he told Premier League Productions (03/04/24 at 8:25 pm).
The legendary striker lauded the 23-year-old for ‘making things happen’ with the ball at his feet and causing Luton’s backline issues.
Emile Smith Rowe v Luton Town
“Emile Smith Rowe I think has done very well in the game,” said Wright.
“He was the one who won the ball back for the first goal and he was the one making the run here (for the own goal). No one has picked him up and he has done well.
“It’s good movement off the ball from Emile Smith Rowe. I am pleased for him. He has come in and he has done something. He is progressing with the ball, running with the ball and making things happen.”
Emile Smith Rowe’s Arsenal future
Smith Rowe has only played 313 minutes of Premier League football this term, after only managing 161 in the previous campaign.
Injuries have seriously halted his progression, both on the club and international stage. There was a point when he was hitting double-figure goals from midfield and repping England.
It has now become very difficult for him to break into Arsenal’s first-team so, come the summer, it will be interesting to see if he heads for the exit door – West Ham wanted him in January.
Yes, it’s difficult to leave a club like Arsenal, especially when they are now flying high and it’s your boyhood club.
But Smith Rowe needs to be selfish, think about the long-term future of his career and search for those regular starts for a top Premier League team.
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