Emile Smith Rowe insists he is ready to compete for a place at Arsenal

Emile Smith Rowe says he has changed his mentality in order to fight for his place at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta. The 23-year-old didn’t start a game for Arsenal last season and endured a difficult campaign after undergoing groin surgery a year ago.

Smith Rowe was the subject of a late enquiry from Chelsea in the summer transfer window but Arsenal rejected the approach from their Premier League rivals.

The midfielder was handed his first start in 499 days on Wednesday evening as Arsenal sealed a 1-0 win over Brentford in the Carabao Cup and has credited Arteta with helping improve his mental strength after his lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Smith Rowe: ‘Being at a massive club like Arsenal, we know there is so much competition’

‘Being at a massive club like Arsenal, we know there is so much competition,’ said Smith Rowe. ‘It is always going to be challenging, it is always going to be difficult to cement your place in the team. I have just got to keep believing in myself.’

‘Coming back and not quite getting back into the team, I have had to stay strong in my head and try to stay as positive as I can. I think the gaffer has really helped me with that. He was helping me through my injury and often pulled me for chats about how I can be mentally stronger, stuff like that.’

Smith Rowe confident he is fit enough to cope with demands of Arsenal’s congested fixture schedule

Smith Rowe is also confident that he is fit enough to cope with the demands of Arsenal’s congested fixture schedule heading into the winter.

‘I have changed a bit of my mentality, just to go for it,’ Smith Rowe said. ‘I have not really got anything to lose. I have tried to change that inside me. I used to have a lot of doubts. I used to question my confidence, at times. But now I am really strong. I am feeling really fit and I am taking that into now.’

‘The gaffer has really helped me with that. He was helping me through my injury and often pulled me for chats about how I can be mentally stronger. I tried to support the boys as much as I could when I couldn’t help them on the pitch. It was really tough but I am stronger now.’

Conclusion

Emile Smith Rowe has had a difficult few years at Arsenal, but he is now ready to fight for his place in the team under Mikel Arteta. He has changed his mentality and believes he is now strong enough to cope with the demands of Arsenal’s congested fixture schedule. With his newfound confidence and determination, Smith Rowe could be an important player for Arsenal this season.