Mikel Arteta: Smith Rowe Isn’t A Winger, Has To Play “In The Pockets”

Mikel Arteta is hoping for Emile Smith Rowe to shine in defined role…

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has accepted that Emile Smith Rowe isn’t best suited as a wide player in our system and envisions him to operate in the “pockets” behind the striker, Football London reports.

Speaking to the press ahead of our Carabao Cup tie against Brentford, Arteta is expecting the 23-year-old to kick on now following an injury-ravaged campaign last term.

Smith Rowe was a pivotal player for Arteta in the 2021/22 season, getting into double figure in terms of Premier League goals and keeping Gabriel Martinelli out of the side.

However, injuries started to hamper him towards the end of that campaign and the club finally decided that surgery was the only cure for his ongoing groin problem.

During his absence, the team has evolved into a new shape which looks different to what the Hale End graduate was used to, but Arteta is confident that there remains a slot for a player of Emile’s profile.

“The best position for Emile is in those pockets,” Arteta clarified.

“It is not to play as a pure winger. I think it suits him, I think the relationships will suit him. Now he needs the minutes and he needs to prove that he can do what he can do.”

The “pockets” the boss is referring to are the two attacking midfield positions behind the striker which makes up our 3-2-5 system when in possession, a role Smith Rowe has briefly occupied sporadically.

Last week’s Champions League tie against PSV saw him receive rapturous applause as he entered the field, and Arteta stated that those internally share the crowd’s feelings towards the England international.

“Here he is incredibly popular,” the Spaniard added.

“We all love him. It’s no different to what the people feel to what we feel about him.”