Even when fit and available, Smith Rowe struggled to get into Mikel Arteta’s team, often just used as a substitute in the final minutes of games. When asked about the versatile star’s lack of game time back in March,
Mikel Arteta replied: “He knows how much we love him, and we know how much we missed him and how much we need his qualities. And now he needs to prove it, he needs to prove how much he wants to win, and how much he’s going to contribute to this team to be better and win. And he’s going to have to show that to get in the team. I think we have to manage his load, but for sure he’s in a position where we can throw him in the team at any moment. And then it’s about how he’s coping with the team in general and whether we have to take him off or to use him in the last few minutes of the game.”
