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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Arsenal’s talented young midfielder, Emile Smith Rowe, is likely to leave the club on loan this summer after reported interest from Wolsburg.
On the chalkboard
Smith Rowe, who’s just been away with the Gunners on their tour of the USA, is expected to leave for his second loan spell after joining RB Leipzig last season, but struggled to get much game-time at all due to an injury.
He’s still nursing an injury, which is thought to be delaying any deal away from the club as a decision won’t be made until he’s back to full-fitness.
It is understood that while the interest from the Bundesliga is there, a host of Premier League and Championship clubs have shown concrete interest in the midfielder as well.
Loan move strips Europa League of any importance
Arsenal’s goal last season will have been to give their best attempt towards reaching Champions League qualification, and while the club managed to finish just a point off their main rivals who sat in fourth place, the end to the season was incredibly disappointing.
Despite the rage and inquests, one of the main benefits to having second-tier European football was the opportunity it would provide for players trying to break into a first team at a club currently going through a transition phase.
Youngsters like Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson could have really benefitted from playing against sides of a much lower calibre to ones that teams regularly encounter at Premier League and Champions League level. It provided a moment to put on the Gunners’ first team shirt without much pressure or stress, and allow first-team stars to enjoy a rest.
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Smith Rowe leaving on loan would massively undermine perhaps the only positive to being in the Europa League. First-team stars playing just one game a week is ideal, as it gives the chance to blood some young talent. The young midfielder has proved last season that he’s perfectly capable of playing at that level, enjoying four appearances in six group stage games, so more exposure to the first-team while having regular opportunities to start as well could have been perfect for his development.
That’s not to say a loan move wouldn’t do him any good, but if Arsenal decide that players can get more education from leaving the club, then the Europa League’s only benefit is being severely overlooked.
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