Emile Smith Rowe made his long-awaited return on Monday night. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
3. Emile Smith Rowe is back!
It feels like forever since we last saw Emile Smith Rowe in action Against Oxford, Mikel Arteta gave the Englishman some much-needed game time, with Arsenal having settled the tie.
https://twitter.com/TikiTakaConnor/status/1612563087856488458?s=20&t=Xix3wHQMPC2S7cBv_yO7mg
Adding Smith Rowe into the squad at this time of the year will prove to be like a new signing for Arteta. ESR even went close to marking his return with a goal, but his effort went just wide.
It was so good to see Smith Rowe in the Arsenal setup again.
pic.twitter.com/p0w9HYvxdZ
<p>— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1612564163360063489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>January 9, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Eddie Nketiah doubled Arsenal’s lead minutes later as Vieira sent him through before the in-form striker rounded the keeper and slotted home. He soon added a third with a neat little dink and the Premier League leaders saw out the remaining minutes to cruise to a comfortable win that sometimes seemed a long way away.</p>
<p>Next in the FA Cup is the small matter of Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.</p>
<h2>Oxford United 0-3 Arsenal: 3 talking points as Eddie Nketiah nets a brace</h2>
<p>The game provided plenty of talking points; here they are.</p>
<h2>1. Central midfield needs an upgrade</h2>
<p>One of the most glaring things to come out of the game is something we knew already…the midfield needs reinforcements. While all the Mykhailo Mudryk talk has dominated the headlines, Arsenal’s midfield needs to add another body and a good one.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Vieira 🤝 Elneny</p>
<p>💪 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@Arsenal finally flex their Premier League muscle<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/ITVFootball?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#ITVFootball</a> | <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://twitter.com/EmiratesFACup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@EmiratesFACup <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://t.co/E0q2eTrVEh">pic.twitter.com/E0q2eTrVEh
<p>— ITV Football (@itvfootball) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://twitter.com/itvfootball/status/1612561022937604099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>January 9, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Without Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, and Martin Odegaard, Arsenal’s midfield looked like a shell of itself. Mohamed Elneny (his nice goal aside) and Sambi Lokonga simply aren’t the answer (Lokonga may be in due time), and it was evident that Arsenal needs to add another midfielder this January.</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/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Talking Point #2 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_131610" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-131610 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1066,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1246116260.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1066" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1246116260.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1246116260-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Nketiah has scored four in four since Christmas. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2. Eddie at the double</h2>
<p>Coming into the game, Nketiah had a chance to further stake his claim as the starter. He did just that. While clearly second behind the injured Gabriel Jesus in the pecking order, Nketiah has a knack for finding the back of the net.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Eddie answers the call 📞<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://twitter.com/EddieNketiah9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@EddieNketiah9 rounds the keeper after a classy ball from Fábio Vieira for <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@Arsenal 🤌<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/EmiratesFACup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#EmiratesFACup</a> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://t.co/2gd8VJxyK3">pic.twitter.com/2gd8VJxyK3
<p>— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://twitter.com/EmiratesFACup/status/1612563271797854208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>January 9, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Both his goals tonight were of top quality and superb finishes. He is getting an extended run in the team, and it’s paying dividends, as the absence of Jesus isn’t being felt just yet.</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/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Talking Point #3 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_131616" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-131616 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1246116615.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1246116615.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1246116615-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Emile Smith Rowe made his long-awaited return on Monday night. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>3. Emile Smith Rowe is back!</h2>
<p>It feels like forever since we last saw Emile Smith Rowe in action Against Oxford, Mikel Arteta gave the Englishman some much-needed game time, with Arsenal having settled the tie.</p>
<p>https://twitter.com/TikiTakaConnor/status/1612563087856488458?s=20&t=Xix3wHQMPC2S7cBv_yO7mg</p>
<p>Adding Smith Rowe into the squad at this time of the year will prove to be like a new signing for Arteta. ESR even went close to marking his return with a goal, but his effort went just wide.</p>
<div class="embed ">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="GNhNKXgV5j"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/09/oxford-united-0-3-arsenal-player-ratings/">Oxford United 0-3 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners set up Man City fourth round tie</a></p></blockquote>
<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/10/oxford-0-3-arsenal-talking-points/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/01/09/oxford-united-0-3-arsenal-player-ratings/embed/#?secret=GNhNKXgV5j" data-secret="GNhNKXgV5j" width="500" height="282" title="“Oxford United 0-3 Arsenal: Player ratings as Gunners set up Man City fourth round tie” — Pain in the Arsenal" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div>
<p>It was so good to see Smith Rowe in the Arsenal setup again.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
