Steve McManaman has claimed that Emile Smith Rowe ‘doesn’t’ deserve’ to start Arsenal’s next Premier League game, as he told Premier League Productions.
The TV pundit praised Smith Rowe for coming off the bench, for the second time in a week, and scoring a goal for Arsenal and sealing the points for his side.
If Smith Rowe does get his place back in the XI, then it’s probably Martin Odegaard who will make way.
On Boxing Day, Arsenal will travel to Carrow Road to take on Norwich City in the Premier League, but they are in League Cup action before then.
It’s a home clash against League One Sunderland on Tuesday night and it will be interesting to see how strong Mikel Arteta goes for the game.
He can afford to ring the changes because of the gulf in quality between the two, but he probably might want to continue playing a winning team.
Either way, making reference to Arsenal’s next Premier League match, ex-Liverpool man, McManaman, doesn’t think Smith Rowe deserves to return to the XI, despite his recent goals.
“He’s not playing Smith Rowe, for the time being,” said McManaman. “Yet he came on the other day to make an impact, he has come on again to make an impact. And that’s a really good sign.
“He doesn’t deserve to play in the next game. But he (Arteta) knows that he is there. He is doing the right thing. His attitude must be spot on. He is scoring goals and he’s a player you can trust.”
To think this time last season, Smith Rowe wasn’t even a regular for his boyhood club.
Yet, fast forward to today and, not only is he now an Arsenal regular, but he’s now chasing the dream to become part of the England set-up for the long-term.
He recently earned his maiden England call and heading into the New Year, the Hale-End star will want to cement his place in a squad that is packed with talented stars.
Smith Rowe is battling players like Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher, to name a few, for those spots.
Not forgetting that someone like Jesse Lingard was ahead of him before Euro 2020 and he might come surging back if he makes a move in January and finds his form.
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