‘Exceptional’ Arsenal player who’s yet to start under Mikel Arteta this season may need January loan move – opinion
Arsenal have enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, and currently find themselves top of the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta has found a winning formula and will want to stick to it as much as possible.
The introduction of new signings Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko has already improved the side.
Arteta will also be over the moon at how quickly William Saliba has slotted into Arsenal’s defence.
The Spanish manager’s faith in his current starting line-up has limited other player’s minutes so far this season.
The 22-year-old was involved in all-but-one of Arsenal’s fixtures up to this point in the season last year.
The Gunners fortunes have certainly improved in the last twelve months, where they briefly found themselves bottom of the league.
However, there are now several factors that are limiting Smith Rowe’s minutes, and if this continues he may need a loan move elsewhere.
Smith Rowe may need love move away from Arsenal
Arsenal’s strong start has been of a detriment to Smith Rowe, but his fitness hasn’t helped matters.
The ‘exceptional’ playmaker had a disrupted pre-season, and it’s taken him longer than some of his teammates to get up to speed.
He then picked up a knock in the warm down after Arsenal’s defeat at Manchester United.
Smith Rowe is now back in training, but his fitness isn’t the only reason he can’t break into the side.
The England international plays his best football as a number ten.
However, Arteta naming Martin Odegaard as club captain shows he plans for the Norwegian to be heavily involved this season.
The Norwegian has also been ‘absolutely amazing’ this season, and it would be hard to see Arteta dropping him.
Smith Rowe also spent some time playing on the left-wing last season.
However, that role has now been filled by Gabriel Martinelli.
The young Brazilian has started every game this season, including Arsenal’s Europa League win over FC Zurich.
Arteta has also admitted that Martinelli has given him ‘the right reasons to give him more minutes’.
Smith Rowe in difficult position
Odegaard and Martinelli’s combined effort have made Smith Rowe’s predicament at Arsenal tricky.
Despite one of his teammates believing he’s the best player in training, it’s not been enough to earn him a starting spot.
The three-cap England international is now in serious danger of missing out on the World Cup.
If either of the players mentioned above pick up an injury Smith Rowe’s in with a shout of stepping into their position.
However, he can’t wait forever for that to happen, and Smith Rowe may need a January loan move to resurrect his career.
