In a recent report, The Athletic claimed that Arsenal playmaker Emile Smith Rowe remains Aston Villa‘s primary target this summer. It is believed that the Villans are eager to recruit a new number ten and has identified the Gunners attacker as a priority option during this summer transfer window (via The Athletic).
Smith Rowe’s Up And Down Season At The Emirates Stadium
Smith Rowe caught the eye with his performances at North London in the previous campaign when he made himself a useful member of Mikel Arteta’s starting XI. The two-time England Under-21 international featured in 33 matches for the Gunners last season, finding the back of the net on seven occasions and providing seven assists in multiple competitions.
The London-born talent impressed in patches as he averaged 0.7 shots, 1.2 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League. The 20-year-old even distributed the ball accurately in the opponent’s half based on his pass completion rate of 87.8% in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
Smith Rowe’s current contract at the Emirates Stadium runs out in the summer of 2023, so Mikel Arteta is under no pressure to cash in on him this summer. However, the English youngster could be tempted with a chance to seal a move to Villa Park where he will be guaranteed regular playing time in the coming seasons.
Will Smith Rowe Be A Decent Choice For The Villans This Summer?
Smith Rowe can use his quickness and energy to make some promising runs with the ball in the opposition half. He has got the vision to cup open the opponent’s defence with a killer pass in the attacking third. The two-time England Under-21 international is in for a bright future in English football, so the West Midlands outfit will do well to lure him to Villa Park before the start of the new campaign.
At 20, Smith Rowe has the potential to become a favorite among the Villa supporters and would be a terrific replacement for Ross Barkley, whose loan spell with the Villans came to an end recently. Furthermore, he could go on to form a good attacking partnership with Jack Grealish if the Villans can retain the services of their skipper beyond this summer.
Smith Rowe will undeniably increase competition for places within Dean Smith’s match-day squad and could help them secure a top-half finish in the English top-flight next season. The Aston Villa head coach has also got a lot of experince in nurturing young players, so he will be an ideal candidate to oversee the English starlet’s development in the coming seasons. With all things considered, Smith Rowe will be a decent choice for Smith to consider in this off-season.
