Smith Rowe shines but will it be enough to SAVE his Arsenal career?

Emile Smith Rowe had been in danger of becoming Arsenal’s forgotten man.

As the Gunners chase their first Premier League title for two decades, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder has been a bit-part player at best.

Until Wednesday, April 3, he had only started two Premier League games all season long under manager Mikel Arteta, with injuries again checking his progress.

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A long-standing groin injury ruled him out of most of last season and, earlier in this campaign, he was sidelined with a knee injury having just played a starring role in a 5-0 win against Sheffield United.

That was a big blow to the “Croydon De Bruyne”, whose Arsenal career always seems to have been one step forward and two steps back.

He was later ruled out of further matches due to an ankle knock.

Smith Rowe was player of the match against Luton

Arsenal fans too have been frustrated with the lack of game time for the Hale End academy graduate, who quickly emerged as a hometown favourite in the early days of Arteta’s reign, but who has since fallen out of favour.

With the games coming thick and fast however, and with the manager intent on rotating his squad, the supporters got their wish on Wednesday night.

Smith Rowe was a surprise inclusion in the lineup for the game against Luton Town and, while the game itself might not lay long in the memory, the playmaker’s contributions were vital and a timely reminder to his manager of his talents.

He set Arsenal going for both goals in the 2-0 win, which put Arsenal a point clear at the top of the table although Liverpool have a game in hand.

For his efforts, Smith Rowe was awarded the Player of the Match award.

"It’s been a tough season," he told TNT Sports after the game. "I haven’t played as much as I would have liked."

"We’re in a title race, so it’s hard to get minutes. I just need to keep working hard in training."

But will it be a one off?

Arteta shuffled his pack on Wednesday night with Bukayo Saka missing out as a precaution, with huge games looming domestically and in the Champions League.

It meant Kai Havertz was partnered by another Hale End boy in Reiss Nelson as well as Smith Rowe in attack.

The manager has rotated the likes of Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus in the attacking positions throughout this season and now has Smith Rowe available there as an option too, although he can play further back.

Summer sale looms for Smith Rowe

Realistically he is still behind those players in the pecking order but did enough on Wednesday to show his manager he can be trusted to play his part in a title race.

However, there is still long-term uncertainty over his future.

It’s unlikely that he will nail down a starting spot under Arteta with so much competition in his preferred slot.

His current contract runs until 2026 and although Smith Rowe would love to be a regular with Arsenal, the fact of the matter is that it will probably have to happen for him elsewhere.

Arsenal are set for a big summer of sales following an FFP-restricted January, after the club splashed the cash last summer.

Smith Rowe will come into the equation again with West Ham and Nottingham Forest known to be keen on adding the midfielder to the ranks.

Aston Villa have also been credited as long-term admirers although face FFP problems of their own.

He was desperate to remain at the club through the January transfer window, even in light of reports that the club wanted to force him through the exit door.

However he got his stay of execution, going on to chip in with a vital contribution against Luton.

Whether that will be enough to save him right now remains to be seen.