Arsenal could part with an adored member of their squad this January, as Mikel Arteta finds that he has too many players to satisfy with minutes this season.
Despite injury concerns ahead of a trip to Dorset, the Gunners trounced Bournemouth 4-0 at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday in an efficient performance. Declan Rice, William Saliba and Bukayo Saka – all doubts for the trip – played, with the latter netting the first goal.
Furthermore, the Gunners have returned almost to full complement ahead of their crunch clash with Manchester City this weekend, welcoming Thomas Partey back to training this week. While that leaves Arteta with more players to choose from, it may well push fringe stars into the background.
TEAMtalk says that Emile Smith Rowe could be facing a "heartbreaking" Emirates Stadium exit with no place left for him in Arteta's first-team plans.
The 23-year-old was welcomed back by Gooners with a rapturous ovation against PSV in the Champions League last month, when he came off the bench. Arteta later claimed Smith Rowe should be "proud of himself" – and the 'Croydon De Bruyne' has featured in each game since that appearance.
VIDEO: How Arsenal EVOLVED Declan Rice To Beat Man United
Smith Rowe was linked with Chelsea over the summer and at the end of the fixture against Bournemouth, he had to be consoled after missing a chance – which he perhaps knew would be a big opportunity for him to stake a first-team claim.
TEAMtalk note that the Hale Ender, who won the European Under-21 Championship with England over the summer, will have "no shortage of suitors".
Due to an injury-hit campaign last term and Arsenal's departure from a 4-2-3-1 shape which favoured Smith Rowe's talent, Arteta hasn't started his No.10 since the end of the 2021/22 season.
Smith Rowe is valued at €35 million by Transfermarkt.
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In an exclusive interview with FourFourTwo, Declan Rice has spoken about Arsenal's aspirations for this season and beyond, claiming the Gunners can compete with the very best at home and in Europe.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports' pundits have discussed the situation involving Arsenal's two goalkeepers, with Jamie Carragher believing that one of them will have to leave the club sooner rather than later.
And Ramsdale has already been linked with a move away from north London, with Chelsea and Bayern Munich reportedly keen on the England international.
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