‘I can’t really see that’: Journalist says Arteta has no plans to sell Arsenal’s ‘rare talent’

Follow us on Google Discover

Journalist Dean Jones has assured that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has no intention to sanction a summer transfer involving Emile Smith-Rowe.

The 22-year-old is yet to start a single game for the Gunners, due to injuries as well as the side having a settled XI this season.

While many have questioned whether a transfer is on the cards for Emile Smith-Rowe, it has been claimed that he is likely to stay at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta’s keen eye.

Journalist rules out transfer for Arsenal youngster Smith-Rowe

During the 2021/2022 campaign, the Englishman well and truly made a name for himself, scoring 10 league goals for his boyhood club.

Branded as a ‘rare talent’ by Tony Cascarino on talkSPORT, the wonderkid was even given the No.10 shirt in 2021 alongside a new contract, which was a sign of how highly-valued he was by the club.

However, while transfer rumours have been in the air surrounding Emile Smith-Rowe, including to Aston Villa, journalist Dean Jones is confident that he is set to stay at Arsenal beyond this season.

“We have to work it out, Arsenal are primed to sign [Declan] Rice, but I don’t see a player who can go the other way. There’s been links with Balogun, I’m not sure that would be the one”, he said on the Ranks FC podcast.

“There have been links with Smith Rowe at one point, but Arsenal still have plans for Smith Rowe, Kieran Tierney will go somewhere else, so I can’t really see that.”

HITC View: Smith-Rowe will burst into life again in midfield

It’s key to remember that when transfer-linked Emile Smith-Rowe was flying under Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, he was doing so as a left-winger.

However, simultaneously, the youngster eventually became a bench player due to the fact that Gabriel Martinelli is a natural wideman, unlike him.

With both Martinelli and Saka having cracking seasons this time around, Smith-Rowe has remained a substitute.

Considering the silky technician is a natural central midfielder, perhaps his home lies in the Granit Xhaka role.

As Xhaka continues to be linked with a move to Bayer Leverkusen, perhaps Smith-Rowe could succeed him as the side’s left-sided midfielder and explode into life again.