Arsenal could be set to sell some popular players this summer in what will be a busy transfer window for incomings and outgoings.
Mikel Arteta wants to strengthen his squad beyond the starting XI, and build a team with a strong bench who he can turn to throughout next season.
Arteta attracted some criticism for failing to rotate his key players, with Bukayo Saka playing a lot of games whilst Reiss Nelson made just one league start, and several stars may now move on.
Emile Smith Rowe is another player who hardly featured all season, with just 474 minutes of action across all competitions, and his future at Arsenal looks bleak.
Once a prodigal talent, Smith Rowe has had the last two campaigns disrupted by injury, but he is still highly rated, meaning that a potentially big sale could prove very profitable for the club.
Arsenal’s transfer stance over him has now emerged, and Arteta may be forced to sell a player he is a big fan of.
Emile Smith Rowe could leave Arsenal despite Arteta’s desire to keep him
Smith Rowe has faced a bizarre situation, as Arteta was often reluctant to use him this season, but is still a big fan of the player.
The Athletic have now reported that after blocking his exit last summer, Arteta could be forced to sell Smith Rowe if a profitable offer comes in to boost Arsenal’s finances when it comes to profit and sustainability rules.
“This season, however, there were no long-term absences through injury. Despite that, he finished it with just three Premier League starts to his name,” they reported.
“Smith Rowe will turn 24 in July. All parties are aware he is at a point in his career where he needs to play more football than he has been doing.
“This time last year, Arsenal sat down with the player’s representatives to make it plain he was not for sale. If the decision were purely down to Arteta, they might keep him around again. He knows Smith Rowe still has the potential to be a match-winner, hence bringing him on as his first attacking substitute during the final-day win over Everton.
“But Arsenal have less leverage this year. Smith Rowe has just two years remaining on his contract, and the club may accept the time is right to sell.”
Emile Smith Rowe Arsenal exit would be best for all parties
As much as Arteta and the Arsenal fans would love to keep Smith Rowe, the reality is that he will not gain enough opportunities to rediscover his best form.
The 23-year-old hardly played this season even when there were injuries on the wings and in midfield, and with Arteta set to strengthen his squad in the transfer window, he will fall further down the pecking order.
Smith Rowe’s last start came in a man-of-the-match performance against Luton Town in April, after which manager Rob Edwards expressed his long-term admiration for the midfielder.
“I was lucky enough, he probably won’t remember this, but I did a few camps with him with the under-20s when I was working at the FA. And I thought he was outstanding,” he stated.
Arsenal fans would not have even considered selling Smith Rowe a year ago, but his return from injury has been an unsuccessful one so far, and a resolution will be needed this summer whilst his value remains somewhat high.