Why Mikel Arteta applauded Emile Smith Rowe as new Arsenal role beckons for run in

From the moment Emile Smith Rowe was named in the Arsenal starting XI it was always going to be a huge night for him. The Hale Ender has started just once in 2024, and played just 91 minutes since the winter break.

A minor ankle injury has played a part in that. But primarily he can argue he's not had a fair crack of the whip.

With Arsenal 5-0 up at half-time against Sheffield United he could not get on the pitch. With a win over Burnley secured when Bukayo Saka scored the third in the 47th minute, Smith Rowe could still only accrue five minutes. Speaking prior to the match, though, Mikel Arteta seemed to suggest this was an issue he did not have too much sympathy for.

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«When you play you say 'yeah but it’s my first game.' Our obligation and our duty is to be prepared to play any minute in any moment,» he said. «Look at the example of Reiss [Nelson]. His best moment for Arsenal, it's a moment where he played a few minutes and made a huge impact and it's one of the best days in his life as an Arsenal player. Nobody remembers if he started or if it was off the bench.

»There are a lot of examples in world sport where players made the impact. Sometimes you just need a second to change the history of a football club. You don't need 100 minutes to play football."

So this was to be Smith Rowe’s moment. Would he take it? The answer was most certainly: 'Yes'.

The Hale Ender earned possession off Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu to spark the move that allowed Martin Odegaard to open the scoring. Then just before half-time he showed the composure required to pick out