Arsenal have now been credited with an interest in signing Morgan Gibbs-White as Emile Smith Rowe is set to leave the club.
Emile Smith Rowe is now on the verge of leaving Arsenal.
The Hale End academy graduate is certainly in need of a fresh start. Having spent the last two seasons on the fringes of the squad, it is clear that the midfielder is not in Mikel Arteta’s plans.
Smith Rowe is now close to joining Fulham, and his departure will be difficult for a lot of Arsenal fans to take. The 24-year-old is a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium, having been on the club’s books since the age of ten.
However, the midfielder needs this move to get his career back on track, and few would begrudge him that opportunity. However, former Arsenal star Perry Groves is concerned Smith Rowe’s exit could leave the Gunners lacking strength in depth.
It now seems that Arteta is on the lookout for a new attacking midfielder to replace the three-cap England international.
According to journalist Oli Price Bates, reporting on X: “Arsenal hold an interest in Morgan Gibbs-White.”
Arsenal eyeing Morgan Gibbs-White to replace Emile Smith Rowe
Gibbs-White impressed for Nottingham Forest last season, and boasts a lot of attributes that would appeal to Arteta.
The 24-year-old is technically gifted, can protect the ball in confined spaces, and offers creativity and goal threat in the final third. He could provide a solution to the Gunners’ left-eight problem, as he has the capacity to slot in comfortably alongside Martin Odegaard, in support of the striker.
However, Nottingham Forest will be keen to keep Gibbs-White this summer, and won’t want to let him go cheaply. What’s more, there is an argument that the player doesn’t represent much of an upgrade on Smith Rowe. He’s certainly no younger, and has never proven himself at international or Champions League level.
Mikel Arteta must give chance to Ethan Nwaneri
Rather than invest millions in Gibbs-White to replace Smith Rowe, Arteta must recognise that the latter’s departure will open up a perfect opportunity to afford Ethan Nwaneri the chance he deserves to take on a greater role in the first team.
Nwaneri looks comfortable in the Arsenal first team on the pitch, and has impressed in pre-season so far. The 17-year-old is a hugely exciting talent and has little left to gain from competing at academy level.
There is a plan to make Nwaneri a bigger part of Arteta’s plans, and now is the time to implement that plan.
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