Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott was impressed by one player in the Gunners’ clash with Luton Town on Wednesday.
Mikel Arteta took this home fixture against Luton Town as an opportunity to rotate the Arsenal starting XI.
The Spanish coach made five changes from the side that battled to a 0-0 draw against Manchester City last time out, with Oleksandr Zinchenko, Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, Leandro Trossard, and Reiss Nelson all coming into the team.
Rests were therefore given to Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho, Declan Rice, Gabriel Jesus, and Bukayo Saka.
Mikel Arteta hands rare opportunity to Emile Smith Rowe
Arsenal fans will have been particularly pleased to see Smith Rowe in the starting line up. The Hale End academy graduate is a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium, but his career has stalled in recent seasons due to persistent injury issues and a subsequent lack of game time.
Arteta insisted earlier this season that Smith Rowe remains in his plans at Arsenal, but time is surely running out for the 23-year-old to prove that he has a long-term future in north London.
He cannot afford to let opportunities such as this one, as he was handed a rare start, to pass him by, and he didn’t. Smith Rowe made two vital contributions in the first half alone.
First, some quick thinking saw him win the ball back in a dangerous area in the build up to Martin Odegaard’s opening goal. Later on in the half, some clever movement in the box saw Smith Rowe receive the ball on the byline, and his well-placed cut-back forced Daiki Hashioka to divert the ball into his own net after Nelson missed the ball.
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Theo Walcott tells Emile Smith Rowe how to save his Arsenal career
Watching the game and speaking on BBC Radio 5Live (03/04/2024, 19:52), former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott said of Smith Rowe, “he is a very talented footballer, very elegant on the ball. He needs to get himself into that position of being first sub that Mikel Arteta calls upon when he needs a gamechanger, and it is a big opportunity for him to show what he can do tonight.”
Journalist Fabrizio Romano recently claimed that Smith Rowe’s future at Arsenal may well depend upon the impact that he is able to have in the final weeks of this season. He certainly did his claim to be a part of Arteta’s squad going forwards no harm with his display against the Hatters. He will be hoping for further opportunities to impress as the games are now set to come thick and fast for the Gunners.