Arsenal are ‘not planning to let Emile Smith Rowe leave this summer’ – despite the injury-plagued midfielder failing to start a SINGLE game during their title-challenging season
- Emile Smith Rowe barely featured in Arsenal’s impressive season due to injury
- The 22-year-old star underwent surgery in September and returned in January
- He was unable to force his way into the first team before the end of the season
Arsenal reportedly have no plans for Emile Smith Rowe to leave the club this summer, despite the attacking midfielder barely making any appearances last season.
The Gunners had their best season in years, but Smith Rowe hardly played a role. He started zero games and played just 195 minutes in all competitions as he was hampered by a groin injury.
The 22-year-old was only used from the bench before a damaged tendon in his groin forced him to undergo surgery six games into the season.
Smith Rowe made his comeback in January, but an impressive comeback never materialized. The Englishman only managed to come on as a substitute in the months that followed.
That led many to believe that he may no longer be part of Mikel Arteta’s plans, but… The athletic claim that this is not the case.
Arsenal have no plans for Emile Smith Rowe to leave the club during the summer period
It’s been a great season for manager Mikel Arteta, who propelled Arsenal to title contention
They report that Arteta still sees him as an important member of the squad and that he is not one of many players the club wants to sack this summer.
Smith Rowe’s contract expires in 2026 and Arsenal hope he will be a key player for England at this summer’s Under-21 European Championship.
As always, Arsenal are under pressure to spend a lot of money, but Arteta has also pointed out that she wants to get more out of some of the players the club already has on its books.
“First of all be critical of ourselves, first of myself,” he said last week.
He returned from injury in January, but did not start a single match before the end of the season
My job is to get the best out of the 24 players we have available and I failed to do that.
“There are still players who have great potential and we haven’t been able to do that.
“There are several reasons, whether it’s injuries, whether it’s playing time, whether I haven’t had the chance or whether we haven’t been able to play them enough.
“We have to look for those margins because we have those margins and our job is to improve them.”