It has been an eventful year for Emile Smith Rowe which has encompassed him being promoted to the Arsenal first-team squad, making his Premier League debut and gaining experience on loan at Huddersfield Town.
Smith Rowe has three games remaining of his loan spell at Huddersfield and after that it will be intriguing to see what Arsenal’s plans are for him going into next season.
The 19-year-old possesses a quality that the first-team could do with at present – his penchant for bursting forward from midfield – although it is evident that he is far from the finished article.
During his spell at Huddersfield Smith Rowe has performed well in the main, but manager Danny Cowley did admit that the youngster isn’t yet capable of starting games in quick succession.
Smith Rowe has built upon the experience that he gained with RB Leipzig last season and will hope that he has done enough at Huddersfield to be afforded chances at Arsenal next season.
Perhaps the best solution would be for Smith Rowe to be part of Mikel Arteta’s squad for the first half of the campaign before a decision is made thereafter regarding where he should spend the remainder of the season.
Having watched the likes of Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock feature heavily in the Premier League, Smith Rowe will hope that his chance is just around the corner.
While at Huddersfield Smith Rowe has learnt a lot and in the defeat to Luton Town he experienced playing slightly further forward than usual, almost alongside striker Frazier Campbell.
Soon he will discover what Arsenal’s aims are for him next season.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
High hopes for Croydon Kaka next season
A promising talent who deserves a chance.
He needs a consistent run of 30+ games
Perfect LANS, especially as we have no cash for a ANS (Actual New Signing)
Nelson was supposed to turn into a player even better than Pépé. If that had happened, 72K would have been used to buy a great defender.
72K? Name me a great defender who would cost 72K.
Kolo Toure circa 2002
He cost 125k…but I digress
Although different styles, I believe he is a better player than Joe Willock. I hope he gets Arsenal playing time next season or worst case, a championship loan for a promotion chasing team.
Genuinely believe he has a premier league career ahead of him
Willock seems to not understand the flow of the game especially decision making when we counter.
He’s already proven he deserves a chance, though we have a lot of young players in a similar position so pre season is going to be huge for them
If we don’t get into Europe, one of Lacazette and Aubameyang will definitely be off. With Martinelli out injured, the first half of next season is a chance for ESR or Nelson to prove themselves
I’d genuinely rather have him playing at LCB over Kolasinac. Love the kid! Maybe a CM berth would suit him better though…
He particularly impressed during one pre-season tour. If Freddie still has any influence in the club, he may get his chance. I am sure.
I like Smith-Rowe – mostly because he seems like a nice guy and I like the way he plays – but also in part because he reminds me of the kid from The Millers and I imagine him singing Waterfalls by TLC flawlessly in the dressing room before each game.
He looks like KDB. I hope he can match his stats too