Emile Smith Rowe hasn’t started a game this season. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
3. Emile Smith Rowe
Emile Smith Rowe burst onto the scene on a memorable Boxing Day win against Chelsea back in 2020. He followed up that season with ten goals and two assists. Since then, however, a niggling groin injury, eventual surgery and recovery have seen him on the outside looking in. The acquisitions of Fabio Vieira and Havertz have not made his return any easier.
Yet the failure of those two to properly assert themselves as starters leaves a hole which Smith Rowe could easily fill. Even off the bench, the driving runs and finishing ability of Arsenal’s number 10 would be invaluable to the team.
The only thing Smith Rowe lacks is minutes. This season, he has only been on the pitch for 24 minutes total. It will take a while for him to get up to speed. With the Champions League and the Premier League as important as ever, opportunities like the one against Brentford will be few and far between. Regardless of how many minutes he plays on Wednesday, every single one will be important in getting Smith Rowe back to his vibrant best.
Arsenal stumbled against Tottenham, and even a draw feels like a loss. With Arteta’s men back in Europe’s premier competition, every single squad member will be needed. Brentford affords him the chance to give valuable minutes to those that could be valuable players this season.
pic.twitter.com/GWQoJL9Adi
<p>— afcsphere (@afcsphere) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/26/3-arsenal-players-need-minutes-brentford/3/"https://twitter.com/afcsphere/status/1706614852192518295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>September 26, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/26/3-arsenal-players-need-minutes-brentford/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<h2>1. Reiss Nelson</h2>
<p>Few fans will ever forget the moment Reiss Nelson scored against Bournemouth last season. Since then, and really ever since he broke onto the scene, his time at Arsenal has been hampered by injuries. Arteta, however, still sees something in him. Nelson was awarded a new contract in the past summer, indicating that he has the faith of the manager.</p>
<p>This season has seen him flittering on the edges of the first team. Although Arteta uses him off the bench, he has been unable to build up consistency or form. <a title="Brentford vs Arsenal preview: Prediction, team news & lineups" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/26/3-arsenal-players-need-minutes-brentford/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/26/brentford-vs-arsenal-preview-prediction-team-news-lineups/" rel="">Brentford provides</a> an excellent opportunity for him to develop both.</p>
<p>A fit and firing Nelson has the potential to change games from the bench. His pace, technical ability and flexibility on which wing he is deployed are valuable attributes to have. The winger will most likely start on Wednesday and it is up to him to give Arteta a welcome selection headache.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/26/3-arsenal-players-need-minutes-brentford/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 player that needs a start vs Brentford </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_136614" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-136614" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/26/3-arsenal-players-need-minutes-brentford/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1074,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1698973744-1.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1074" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1698973744-1.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1698973744-1-768x516.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1698973744-1-1536x1031.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Kai Havertz needs a confidence boost. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>2. Jorginho/Kai Havertz</h2>
<p>Both Jorginho and Kai Havertz have not exactly endeared themselves to fans this season. The departure of Granit Xhaka and the <a title="Positive injury updates after North London Derby draw" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/26/3-arsenal-players-need-minutes-brentford/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/25/arsenal-positive-injury-updates-north-london-derby/" rel="">injuries to Thomas Partey and now Declan Rice</a> leave large holes in the squad that desperately need to be filled.</p>
<p>Jorginho is one of the senior members of the squad. While the Italian’s leadership and experience are soft factors that certainly improve a young team, he still needs to be ready when called upon. Losing the ball against Tottenham was an uncharacteristic mistake that may have come about because of rustiness. His confidence will also be shot after Sunday. Playing and playing well against Brentford would allow him to regain belief in himself and the rest of the players.</p>
<p>Kai Havertz could also do with more minutes. While he is fit physically, he has yet to find his groove. A new environment, team and position, along with the baggage of transferring from a rival, has led to growing pains. His confidence is clearly lacking. The relationships he has with other players will only improve as he plays more games. Brentford would allow Arteta to help Havertz continue to acclimate while resting other key players.</p>
<p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/26/3-arsenal-players-need-minutes-brentford/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 player that needs a start vs Brentford </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_136616" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-136616" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/26/3-arsenal-players-need-minutes-brentford/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1864,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1694472637-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1864" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1694472637-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1694472637-768x559.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1694472637-1536x1118.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1694472637-2048x1491.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">Emile Smith Rowe hasn’t started a game this season. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
<h2>3. Emile Smith Rowe</h2>
<p>Emile Smith Rowe burst onto the scene on a memorable Boxing Day win against Chelsea back in 2020. He followed up that season with ten goals and two assists. Since then, however, a niggling groin injury, eventual surgery and recovery have seen him on the outside looking in. The acquisitions of Fabio Vieira and Havertz have not made his return any easier.</p>
<p>Yet the failure of those two to properly assert themselves as starters leaves a hole which Smith Rowe could easily fill. Even off the bench, the driving runs and finishing ability of Arsenal’s number 10 would be invaluable to the team.</p>
<p>The only thing Smith Rowe lacks is minutes. This season, he has only been on the pitch for 24 minutes total. It will take a while for him to get up to speed. With the Champions League and the Premier League as important as ever, opportunities like the one against Brentford will be few and far between. Regardless of how many minutes he plays on Wednesday, every single one will be important in getting Smith Rowe back to his vibrant best.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="v20QWLPLWh"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/26/3-arsenal-players-need-minutes-brentford/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/26/3-big-questions-surrounding-mikel-arteta-arsenal/">3 big questions surrounding Mikel Arteta and Arsenal</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="“3 big questions surrounding Mikel Arteta and Arsenal” — Pain in the Arsenal" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/26/3-arsenal-players-need-minutes-brentford/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/26/3-big-questions-surrounding-mikel-arteta-arsenal/embed/#?secret=jmTAA3BroZ#?secret=v20QWLPLWh" data-secret="v20QWLPLWh" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div>
<p>Arsenal stumbled against Tottenham, and even a draw feels like a loss. With Arteta’s men back in Europe’s premier competition, every single squad member will be needed. Brentford affords him the chance to give valuable minutes to those that could be valuable players this season.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
