Martin Keown has admitted to BT Sport that he wasn’t pleased when Arsenal took off Emile Smith Rowe as they chased the game against Benfica last night.
Almost immediately after Arsenal fell 2-1 behind against Benfica, Arteta decided that it was time to take Smith Rowe off – with Willian and Thomas Partey coming on.
It was interesting that Smith Rowe was the player Arteta opted to bring off, while he left Martin Odegaard on the pitch.
And even though Arsenal came back and won, Keown suggests that he wasn’t a massive fan of the change.
“I wasn’t happy seeing Smith Rowe go off,” he said.
“I want Smith Rowe in the middle, Lacazette play through the middle and Aubameyang through the sides. They’re only starting positions.
“Aubameyang could be on the left and end up in the middle.
“From what I’ve seen over the last couple of seasons I do feel Smith Rowe has brought something quite special to the team, both pressing and with his creativity. I’m not seeing that with Odegaard at the moment.
“But Smith Rowe was taken off far too early in this game for me. I didn’t understand that concept of taking him off. I would have been building with him in that position.”
Smith Rowe didn’t have his finest game in an Arsenal shirt last night, but his impact on the team this season has been monumental.
Although he has been shifted out to a wing position more recently, Smith Rowe produced his best football when playing as a number 10.
He injected some creativity into Arsenal’s play at a time when they were badly struggling, and is a major reason behind why Arteta’s side have picked up more recently.
Arsenal’s win over Benfica means that they are now in the last 16 of the Europa League, when they face Olympiacos.
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