Getting Creative with Replacing the No. 10
Mesut Ozil, after over seven years at Arsenal Football Club, has joined Fenerbahce. While Arsenal have not yet announced the German playmaker’s transfer to his boyhood club at the time of this writing, Ozil has, as usual, beaten them to the punch on social media. Arsenal are likely waiting until the very last signature is finalized to utter a word about it, still probably pinching themselves that they’ve gotten the player with whom they very publicly went to war off their payroll. But for all intents and purposes, Mesut Ozil’s time as a Gunner has reached its conclusion. Players are publicly bidding farewell to him, including a post by Shkodran Mustafi that appears very pointed toward the club. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette have joked on Instagram about fighting over the No. 10 jersey left behind, fueling an online debate as to who should get it (and why it would be just like Arteta to give it to Willian). Arsenal fans everywhere are analyzing his legacy and debating whether he will go down as a club legend. But few seem particularly worried about replacing Ozil’s creative output, a marked change from this time a month ago. And that is down to the player who probably should be given Ozil’s number.
Emile Smith Rowe, the Croydon De Bruyne himself, has proven transformative for Arsenal’s attack. In a team devoid of a player who can provide a passing option in central areas outside the opponent’s penalty box and consistently create chances, Smith Rowe has stepped in and given his side just that. He is proving himself to be a player capable of standing out in the Premier League, and it’s time Arsenal responded accordingly. Going forward, Smith Rowe must be regarded as the first-choice creative midfielder at Arsenal Football Club.
The impact Smith Rowe has made in a short period of time is nothing short of phenomenal. He has contributed to a small renaissance for Lacazette, providing the French striker with a partner for quick combination play in and around the final third. He drifts out to the wings and provides an outlet there as well, joining the full-back and winger to create passing triangles that open up dangerous lanes on the flanks. But what is so striking about Smith Rowe’s play is how he rarely takes more than one or two touches on the ball before passing. And yet, he seems to almost always makes the correct decision when he plays the ball. Despite being only 20 years old, the young playmaker knows what he’s going to do with the ball before he gets it, and then executes with precision and consistency. This striking maturity of play is why he has three assists in five Premier League appearances and only Bruno Fernandes has created more chances in the league since his first appearance on December 26.
In contrast, Arsenal’s attacking prowess had been almost nonexistent before Smith Rowe’s inclusion and not much better in the one game he didn’t start since December 26. Entering the match against Chelsea, Arsenal had only scored 12 goals in 14 Premier League matches. In the five games since Smith Rowe’s introduction, Arsenal have notched 11 goals. Against Newcastle in the FA Cup, Arsenal’s threat going forward had been so lacking that Arteta felt the need to sub Smith Rowe on after only 56 minutes. The current No. 32’s importance is demonstrated not only by what he does on the pitch, but what happens when he’s off it.
Since Smith Rowe has been in the side, Arsenal have collected 13 of a possible 15 points in the league. With each display, the low-socked Englishman is surely giving Arteta and Edu something to think about as they plot the remaining days of the January transfer window. As it stands, it appears unlikely that the club will be able to bring in an attacking midfielder head and shoulders above Smith Rowe in terms of quality for the Hale End product to learn from and eventually succeed, as is apparently the plan. Emi Buendia, whom Norwich manager Daniel Farke is “99% sure” will stay at the club, is rumored to cost around £40 million, a steep price for Arsenal at the moment. Dortmund are unlikely to part with Julian Brandt before the end of the season. What appears more feasible is to bring in another young creative player to compete with Smith Rowe and provide a rotation option. Among the best choices in that regard appear to be Michael Olise of Reading and Martin Odegaard of Real Madrid.
To be clear, Arsenal do still need to bring in another creative player. Smith Rowe is still young, still inexperienced, and still a player with a history of injuries. He cannot play every match and an extended absence for him would be difficult for Arteta and co. to overcome. He must be managed properly and protected. But he also is entrenching himself in the starting XI with every passing week. As with the likes of Bernd Leno, Kieran Tierney, Thomas Partey, and Bukayo Saka, he is becoming almost irreplaceable.
If there ever was a time for a 20-year-old to stake their claim as one of the key players in the Arsenal squad, it’s now. As has been said countless times, Arsenal are entering a rebuild. A large part of this season has been and will be assessing which players should be part of team not just in August, but 3-5 years down the line. Saka has established himself as one of those players Arteta needs to build the next great Arsenal team around. Tierney and Martinelli have as well, and Gabriel is also part of that conversation. Now Smith Rowe is banging on the door. He is showing us that we don’t need go out and buy the next great creative midfielder, because we already have him. To make Smith Rowe another piece of the team Arteta wishes to create and challenge for silverware with in the future would be to give a young player with world class potential the experience and nurturing he needs to realize it. And it would save the club a pretty penny in the process, which will be helpful. All signs currently point to Arsenal needing to shell out for a striker this summer or next.
It is an enormous stroke of luck that as one of the greatest playmakers in Arsenal’s history prepares to start a new chapter in his career elsewhere, a young creator from Arsenal’s academy has emerged as a capable heir to that role. But that is indeed what is happening at the Emirates these days. Emile Smith Rowe has swooped in and staked his claim as Arsenal’s No. 10 for now and the future. And with seasoned veterans, other talented young players, and hopefully a backup option around him, he might just have what it takes to make the rebuild move a little bit faster. As with all young players, there will be ups and downs. But if he keeps producing performances like he has since the end of last year, he will create not only goals, but a platform for the club to push on from.
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