Kevin Campbell has said on the Highbury Squad YouTube channel that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has to rest Emile Smith Rowe against Aston Villa today.
The former Arsenal striker, who now works as a pundit for Sky Sports, believes that Smith Rowe should not start against Villa at Villa Park in the Premier League.
Campbell thinks that the 20-year-old attacking midfielder needs a rest as he has been playing a lot of games recently.
The Englishman has added that Norway international attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard should start in place of Smith Rowe.
The 22-year-old joined the Gunners on loan from Real Madrid in the January transfer window.
Campbell said on the Highbury Squad YouTube channel: “I think Arteta needs to protect ESR. There’s been a lot of football going on. ESR has played in a team, I think this is probably his first time, first Premier League game where the team have gone down to 10 and then nine men, and he has played in it.
“It’s extra stress on the body and he is going to be feeling it. Just to freshen things up a little bit, you have got to be smart how you handle these youngsters and Martin Odegaard must be chomping at the bit to get in this team and show us what he can do.”
Does Emile Smith Rowe need a rest?
Smith Rowe has established himself as an important player in the Arsenal team and has been playing pretty regularly over the past few weeks.
According to WhoScored, the Englishman has provided three assists in eight Premier League games and has scored one goal and given two assists in three Europa League matches so far this season.
While the attacking midfielder is not used to playing this much football at the top level, he is only 20 years of age, and it is hard to see him struggle physically to play week in week out.
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