Arsenal look set to make a difficult decision over the future of Emile Smith Rowe, as the midfielder could end up leaving this summer.
Smith Rowe is a popular player at Arsenal, having come through the Hale End Academy, and his last full season as a first-team regular was an outstanding one as he registered 10 Premier League goals from midfield.
The three-time England International may have even helped save Mikel Arteta’s job, as his arrival into the starting lineup in December 2020 helped spark a turnaround in fortunes for a struggling Arsenal side.
Smith Rowe’s eventual downfall at the club, which has seen him start just three Premier League games in the last two seasons, is not one many could have predicted, but Arsenal legend Tony Adams was ahead of the curve when he suggested that the midfielder’s chances of success at the Emirates were limited because of one Arteta decision.
Tony Adams predicted Emile Smith Rowe Arsenal downfall because of Martin Odegaard
In March 2021, Martin Odegaard was getting to grips with life in North London, having arrived on loan from Real Madrid, and Adams stated at the time that his signing would stifle Smith Rowe’s chances of success at Arsenal.
“Players like Odegaard, my argument is: do you need that type of player when you’ve got Emile [Smith Rowe], you’ve got [Gabriel] Martinelli, you’ve got all these other kids that are coming through,” Adams stated on Astro SuperSport.
“You’ve got all this kind of talent. For me, as a sports director – and I’ve been a sports director at seven clubs – you kind of spot your weaknesses. Where are your kids coming through? We’re going to have to leave room there because we’ve got some real talent.
“If we’ve got a Dave Rocastle coming through, we’re not going to go out and find a right-back. If you’ve got a Tony Adams coming through, you’re not going to go out and get a central defender. You’ve got to give the kids the opportunity if you think they’re going to come through.”
Did Martin Odegaard block Emile Smith Rowe’s pathway to Arsenal action?
Right now, Smith Rowe cannot get into the Arsenal team ahead of Odegaard, who is arguably Arsenal’s most irreplaceable player as well as club captain.
However, when Odegaard first arrived, the two would play together. Prior to his injury issues, Smith Rowe had a burst of pace which saw him start on the left wing, ahead of Martinelli whilst the Brazilian recovered from his own problems.
Prior to Odegaard’s arrival though, Smith Rowe was used as a number 10, or in attacking midfield, and the signing of the Norweigan, initially on loan before a £30m permanent move, did harm the Englishman’s chances of establishing himself as a key starter in the role.
Odegaard rapidly improved after his first few months at Arsenal, and the end of his second season saw him become a key player and eventually captain, whilst Smith Rowe began to see his influence and game time wear down.
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Therefore, there is some merit to Adams’ previous assessment: Arteta choosing to sign a top-class young player in Smith Rowe’s position did harm his chances at the club, but this was not the only factor, and given where Arsenal are now with Odegaard leading the way, this was the best decision for the club.