Smith Rowe hasn't started a match for Arsenal in any competition since May 2022. He missed much of the first half of last season after undergoing groin surgery.
He has been fit for the majority of 2023 but has been unable to catch Mikel Arteta's eye and has fallen behind the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Reiss Nelson in the pecking order. Arteta has promised that Smith Rowe will be given more of an opportunity this season.
However, that is yet to come to fruition as he has been an unused substitute in all four Premier League matches so far this term. It is some fall from grace for Smith Rowe, whose form in an Arsenal shirt earned him a first call-up to the senior England squad in 2021.
Johnson believes Smith Rowe must ensure he is ready to play whenever Arteta needs him. Nketiah did just that last season, stepping in admirably for Gabriel Jesus after he underwent knee surgery.
Nketiah took his chance again at the beginning of this campaign when Jesus was out. The striker's early-season form saw him called up by Gareth Southgate for the first time.Johnson says Smith Rowe must be patient despite a frustrating lack of game time. Johnson exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone: "Obviously Emile Smith Rowe is in an unfortunate position for Arsenal right now, because those players in the starting line-up have been performing really well.
"He just needs to be patient because he's still really young. I'm sure there's frustration there within the individual, but that's natural for any human being who wants to be successful.
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