Gareth Southgate might easily have selected four Arsenal player’s for his latest England squad but ended up giving the nod to just Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale.
For Emile Smith Rowe and Ben White, the disappointment was offset by positive words from the Three Lions boss who rightly pointed to stiff competition both in defence and midfield.
For Mikel Arteta, the fact his players are in the mix for international call-ups is positive, even if some of them have to be patient a little longer.
“Gareth has to make some difficult choices, he has so many options,” said Arteta ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Watford.
“What I like is that our players are performing at a level that I’m sure they are giving problems in the selection to Gareth and the coaching staff. That’s what pleases me.
“I know that they have the level to do it and it’ll be about timing and the right moment when the manager decides to select them.”
Asked specifically about Smith Rowe missing out – the midfielder will instead join up with Lee Carsley’s under-21s – again Arteta accentuated the positives.
“I think he should be happy if people are questioning any decision [to leave him out] because that proves the level that he’s playing at.
“Like anything that’s happened in Emile’s career, it will come when it’s the right moment. We don’t know if it’s the right moment, Gareth knows much better than us what he judges the role he could have in that team.
“If he’s decided it’s not the right moment, I’m sure it was a very thoughtful process and the right decision.”
Put to Arteta that it’s beneficial to Arsenal when his players aren’t selected for international duty – the suggestion being more rest and more time on the training ground is good during a busy season – the boss wasn’t so sure.
“I don’t know, I think our objective should be to prepare the players with the right mindset to have the biggest ambitions,” he said.
“Those two [Smith Rowe and White] have the biggest ambitions and it’s probably why they are performing the way they are. It will come.
“They have to respect those decisions and not take any disappointment because it’s a long run. Affecting them negatively in their performances, in their mindset, that’s not what we want, we want the opposite.”
I can see why Smith-Rowe wasn’t selected, Southgate would see him as a “forward” and there’s a lot of competition for places in there. But omitting White in favour of Mings and Coady is truly baffling.
I’m frankly just relieved.
You see the word ‘positive’ in a headline these days…
Mings, Coady, and MAGUIRE…who has been crap lately. Clearly Southgate has his favorites though.
I’m fine with ESR not playing too much. We need to not burn him out or injure him.
I must confess that England is blessed with lots of talents at this time. It is not surprising to see class acts like this duo miss out.
All they can do is keep working hard like they are doing at the moment. It will come a time Southgate won’t be able to ignore them any longer.
Back to England; I hope they can put their acts together and win a major trophy in the near future. They have a crop of players capable of delivering at the biggest stage.
They will both make it in time, in my opinion. Both are young, let’s not rush them.
Happy enough for them to have a week off at the moment
Not sure if ESR has a week off, he has been called to the U21s according to the article. Would prefer him to rather have a week off though.
To be honest I couldn’t give a fcuk about England. It’s great that our players are getting plenty of rest.
With no European games and with so many players not playing internationally, we should take advantage of this and make sure we finish at least sixth.
And win the League Cup.
I want to dream a little bigger. West Ham will drop off at some point. The rest aren’t exactly out of reach for us.
Dare I say it.. Top 4?
We’re not good enough yet
Agree, we have chance if arteta can sort out the midfield. We give up the ball far too easily and invite pressure.
I would take that.
1.dinamo london
2.liverpool
3.man $hity
4.Arsenal
5.manure
6.west ham
7.sp?ds
8.leicester
9.everton
10.wolves
Arteta communicating like this is why he is so highly regarded by so many. Arsenal yet again showing, form comes and goes, class is forever.