Arsenal have no intention of allowing Emile Smith Rowe to leave the club during the summer transfer window.
Smith Rowe struggled for game time throughout the 2022/23 campaign, failing to start a single Premier League match in what was ultimately a season ravaged by injury for the Hale End academy graduate. He underwent surgery on a nagging groin issue before suffering from a thigh strain almost immediately after finally returning to full fitness.
Even when fully fit, the talented playmaker was unable to find his way into Mikel Arteta's plans, playing just 164 Premier League minutes across 12 substitute appearances. That has led to speculation surrounding his future, with Aston Villa mooted as a possible destination should he leave the Emirates Stadium.
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However, the Athletic have claimed that the Gunners want Smith Rowe to stay and the 22-year-old remains an important part of Arteta's long-term plans in north London. football.london chief Arsenal correspondent Kaya Kaynak reported on Monday that the young midfielder has been training well, even losing weight as he looks to find a way into Arteta's plans.
Speaking on our very own The View From The Clock End podcast yesterday, Kaynak said: “We’ve done some stuff on the Smith Rowe situation in terms of him being left out. He’s come back since the injury, he’s pain free, he's there, he's doing well in training.
"All the reports from training are positive, he’s lost weight, his physique is much leaner than it ever has been before. He’s setting personal records when it comes to pace, physicality all of those things, he's not had any conversations with Arteta, there's not been any specific, 'you need to do this to be in the team'."
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