In a recent report, The Telegraph revealed that Aston Villa are eyeing a second move for Arsenal playmaker Emile Smith Rowe this summer. It is understood that the Villans have already had a bid worth around £25m rejected for the English attacker but are not willing to give up on their top summer target just yet (via The Telegraph).
Smith Rowe’s Campaign Of Mixed Emotions At The Emirates Stadium
The London-born talent did well to play a regular run of games for Mikel Arteta’s side and managed to put in some eye-catching displays as a key member of the Gunners attack. Smith Rowe featured in 33 matches for the North London outfit last season, scoring four goals and grabbing seven assists on all fronts.
The 20-year-old struggled to be consistent with his performances in the final third as he averaged 0.7 shots, 1.2 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per game in the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League. However, he distributed the ball with conviction after making 87.8% of his attempted passes in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
Smith Rowe’s current contract with Arsenal is set to expire in the summer of 2023, so Arteta will be under no immediate pressure to cash in on him which could make things difficult for the Villans in their pursuit of the English youngster during this summer transfer window.
Will Smith Rowe Be The Right Choice For The Villans?
Smith Rowe has decent pace in his locker and can make some energetic sprints towards the opponent’s penalty box. The English prospect has shown that he can be a good playmaker in Premier League football as he has a knack for creating some inviting openings for others around him. He can even contribute by scoring the odd goal from time to time.
However, Smith Rowe has to find a way to be consistent, so he could be tempted with the opportunity to join Aston Villa this summer as he will be guaranteed regular first-team starts at Villa Park next season. Plus, he could serve as a good replacement for Ross Barkley who returned to his parent club Chelsea earlier this year.
We can expect Smith Rowe to offer some serious competition for Anwar El Ghazi, Trezeguet and Morgan Sanson for a place in Smith’s starting XI in the coming seasons. At 20, the Arsenal whizkid has the ceiling to become a future star in English football. Hence, Smith Rowe will be a great choice for the West Midlands outfit in this off-season as he will enhance the overall depth of Smith’s match-day squad and could grow into a real fan-favorite at Villa Park over the next few years.
