Emile Smith Rowe would be more beneficial to Arsenal right now than current stars Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, claims former England defender Paul Parker.
The Gunners have seen their Premier League title credentials come under scrutiny in recent weeks. Going into GW12, they are nine points off the summit.
Defeats to Bournemouth and Newcastle haven’t helped and Mikel Arteta has a mammoth task on his hand to get the north Londoners firing again.
In fact, the last time Arteta tasted victory in England’s elite was on October 5 against struggling Southampton. This weekend, they welcome Nottingham Forest to the Emirates.
Emile Smith Rowe ‘Needed’ More Than Bukayo Saka And Gabriel Martinelli
This season, the likes of Brentford, Brighton and rivals Tottenham have all scored more goals than Arsenal. Therefore, more emphasis is being put on Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli to contribute more.
That is where Emile Smith Rowe would come in, according to two-time Premier League winner Paul Parker. Smith Rowe, of course, was sold by the Gunners in the summer as he wanted more game time.
“I think players like him (Emile Smith Rowe) are what Arsenal need more than Martinelli and Saka,” Parker told bettingexpert.com.
“Saka is a bit overrated and he always seems injured, especially if Arsenal is behind in a match. Him and Ødegaard together would have been a great duo, but again, I think it was the right decision for him to leave, and also for Arsenal at the time, even though things might have changed now.”
Parker went on to say: “He is a brilliant player, but I don’t think Arsenal are regretting that they sold him. It’s always easy to say that they should have kept him because of the injuries, but he wanted more game time and he couldn’t get that at Arsenal.
“But I think he is better than Martinelli, even though they are not similar players. He is just so good and the way he runs with the ball and the way the ball never leaves the grass. He is a wonderful player with a great future.”
During his time in north London, Smith Rowe made 115 appearances in all competitions and netted 18 goals. He was also part of the England U21 side who won the 2023 European Championship.
