Do Arsenal still need to sign Maddison despite Smith Rowe's impressive form?

Stefan Bienkowski

• 2 Nov 2021 12:59 CDT
• 8 min read

With an unbeaten run in all competitions that now stretches to nine games, it seems as though Arsenal may have finally got their season on track.

After a busy summer transfer window which saw the club spend a remarkable amount of money, Mikel Arteta’s side are finally beginning to click into gear and work their way up the Premier League table.

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However, one player that didn’t make the move to Arsenal in the summer was Leicester City playmaker James Maddison and the London club can’t seem to shake off reports that they remain interested in the England international.

But does Arteta’s side really need another attacking midfielder if things are working so well without the Leicester star?

‘Maddison gives you a different threat’

According to former Arsenal midfielder Michael Thomas, Arteta’s side look in good nick but could certainly use someone like Maddison providing more chances for the club’s strikers in the second half of the season.

“[Emile Smith Rowe] has been in really good form, carrying the ball and getting into goal scoring positions which is what you want to see from him,” Thomas told CaughtOffside.

“I think long term you will see him in a more central position, but right now I think that left hand side suits him really well.

"It means he is able to pick the ball up already on the half turn and have a view of the whole pitch going forwards.

"His ability to move with the ball and bounce passes off [Alexandre]Lacazette or [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang is really good too.

“I think Maddison gives you a different threat, but for me another signing in the middle is more of a must now.

"Having said that, [Albert Sambi] Lokonga has looked good since coming in, bar the mistake against Palace, but he is still young.”

Do Arsenal really need Maddison?

While some Arsenal fans may have preferred to see the club sign Maddison in the summer transfer window, the club clearly went in a different direction and opted for Martin Odegaard instead.

The Norwegian playmaker hasn’t exactly hit the ground running just yet, but fortunately for Arteta’s side Smith Rowe has stepped into the playmaker void and filled the space with some excellent performances.

Arsenal - like any team - could always use more good players but there certainly isn’t a glaring hole in Arteta’s team that is crying out for the club to spend a huge amount of money on Maddison in January or indeed next summer.