It's been a tough year for Emile Smith Rowe. The Hale Ender was Arsenal's second highest scorer behind Bukayo Saka in 2021/22, but failed to start a single match in any competition in 2022/23.
There were a myriad of reasons for this. The primary one is of course his injury. Smith Rowe had been struggling with pain from a groin injury since his teen years and finally took the decision to get it sorted once and for all with surgery at the start of this season. That would ultimately rule him out for five months, before a series of false starts around the New Year saw his progress disrupted further.
For the last few months of the season though, the 23-year-old was back fully fit and pain free. He lost weight, was impressing in training and set personal bests for his physicality. Still though his wait for a route back in to the Arsenal first team would continue.
Despite the Gunners struggles in games against West Ham, Southampton and Nottingham Forest, Mikel Arteta continued to overlook one of his most threatening attacking options. Unsurprisingly rumours of a potential exit began to circulate not long after, but Arteta is adamant that he wants Smith Rowe to stay.
“He knows how much we love him and he knows how much we missed him and how much we need his qualities,” the Spaniard told football.london in March. It's understood that a conversation was had at the end of this season to remind Smith Rowe of his importance and reaffirm that he would not be going anywhere this summer.
Still though, his wait for an opportunity continues. With Arsenal continually being linked to the likes Kai Havertz there is a concern that Smith Rowe could have to wait even longer. Now though, the 22-year-old has the chance to remind everyone just how good a player he really is.
READ MORE: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Declan Rice deal advances, Bellingham announced, Caicedo bid
Smith Rowe has been called up to Lee Carsley's England under-21s squad for the Euros later this month. The Hale Ender scored on his second to last appearance for the Young Lions and is expected to play a key role in Georgia and Romania.
Although Arteta has been training Smith Rowe in the central midfield positions - where he has implied he will one day end up - it's interesting that the 22-year-old has been included as a forward in Carsley's squad. This could give him the opportunity to grab headlines with goal contributions as he has done in the past at international level.
Throughout the difficult period towards the end of this season, one of the factors that has motivated Smith Rowe to produce consistently excellent performances in training is the under-21 Euros. He's targeting it as a chance to remind the world of the player who burst on to the scene on Boxing Day of 2020 against Chelsea and arguably turned Arsenal's fortunes around.
READ NEXT:
'Rice and Caicedo incoming?' - Arsenal's double transfer mission after William Saliba agreement
Declan Rice signs, Partey out, Caicedo in - Dream Arsenal midfield after £175m transfers
