Why Southampton signing Emile Smith Rowe would be quite useful
As per Football.London (h/t Hampshire Live), Southampton are considering the signing of Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal. Mikel Arteta believes the player needs to get more first-team football for his development after impressing last year. Southampton on the other hand are scurrying to sign at least one central midfielder.
Profile
A product of Arsenal’s academy, Emile Smith Rowe is a 20-year-old English midfielder who plays for Arsenal. He joined their academy in 2008 and played for their youth side until 2016. Then he was promoted to the U-18s. He played 27 games at that level, scoring 13 and assisting 2.
Two seasons later, he was moved up to the U-23s and was sent on loan to RB Leipzig. Before going out on loan, he made his debut for the club in a Europa League game versus Vorskla Poltava and scored his first goal against Qarabag. He featured just thrice for the German side before returning at the end of the season.
The midfielder featured sporadically for Arsenal in the following season with games in the Europa League and Carabao Cup. Nonetheless, he was sent on loan to Championship side Huddersfield for the second half of last season. In 12 appearances for Arsenal, he has 3 goals (source – Transfermarkt).
The midfielder has amassed 18 appearances for the England youth teams, scoring 4 times in the process. He is yet to be called up to the senior team.
Why Emile Smith Rowe would be a useful signing for Southampton
It is no secret that Southampton are in dire need of midfield reinforcements. The club have let go of three midfielders, namely Mario Lemina (Fulham), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Spurs) and Harrison Reed (Fulham).
This leaves them with a barebones midfield of Oriol Romeu, Stuart Armstrong, Will Smallbone and James Ward-Prowse. The Arsenal youngster would not only add to the numbers but also the quality. He is very versatile and can play as an attacking midfielder and also as a right-winger.
His potential was on display at Huddersfield last season where he played 19 games, scoring twice and assisting thrice (source – Transfermarkt).
Verdict
Coach Mikel Arteta believes that the midfielder has a future at the club (source – Football.London). But he is keen for the player to play for a Premier League side and return next season.
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- Why Southampton must secure a loan deal for Ryan Sessegnon
A player like Emile Smith Rowe would be a decent and fresh addition to Southampton’s midfield.
