Ian Wright has stated that Arsenal’s recent super-sub, Emile Smith Rowe, has given Mikel Arteta a ‘problem’, as he told Premier League Productions (18/12/21 at 7:25 pm).
Arsenal beat Leeds 4-1 on Saturday and Smith Rowe, for the second game running, came off the bench to find the back of the net.
The England international is sending out a clear message to his manager that he should now be getting picked from the get-go.
The Gunners are in League Cup action against League One side Sunderland on Tuesday night and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Smith Rowe return to the starting XI.
But the question remains as to whether he will be in the starting XI for his side’s Boxing Day fixture against Norwich City in the Premier League.
Wright thinks Smith Rowe ‘doesn’t care’ even if he gets ‘two minutes’ from Arteta because he just wants to prove his worth and put the ball into the back of the net.
“Emile Smith Rowe is coming off the bench and giving the manager a problem saying ‘I want to be starting’,” said Wright. “So, he wants to be playing.
“What you are seeing with Emile Smith Rowe is ‘okay, I am out of the team. But when I come on, I don’t care if I get two minutes, five minutes or ten minutes. I am going to get a chance and make sure I score’.
“What he is doing and what he has realised is that it’s about goals. It’s about the end product and it’s something he has worked on. The manager has wanted him to work on it.
“And he is like ‘right, if you put me on the bench when I come off the bench then I am looking to score a goal’. He has done it and given the manager another problem. That’s exactly what you want.”
A number of weeks ago, following Kieran Tierney’s injury, Nuno Tavares came into the team in place of the Scotsman.
During his time on the pitch, the club’s summer signing produced the goods and kept his place in the XI, even though Tierney had returned to action.
It was deserved because Tavares was performing pretty well, so with Arsenal flying high in recent games, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Arteta opts to make any changes.
If Smith Rowe does return to the XI, then he will more than likely push Martin Odegaard to the bench.
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