T
he qualities of Emile Smith Rowe were less well known. Europa League football is one thing, but defending against Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante is another. Afterwards, his creativity and touch in West Brom brought back memories of Jack Wilshere directing the play.
As often happens in these situations, Smith Rowe’s luck came out of desperation. Mikel Arteta didn’t seem very keen on promoting the playmaker, instead hoping his top stars would firm up. When they didn’t, there was no other choice. With widely questioned references and Arteta’s decision-making, the Spaniard turned to a player of unknown pedigree.
So now let’s hope that the success, enthusiasm and sheer effort of young people rubs off on those around them, especially Willian and Nicolas Pepe – two characters who have often drifted through seemingly selfless games.
We don’t really know how good Pepe can get. Bought for a pittance (well done, Raul Sanllehi, former Arsenal football manager), the winger has yet to prove that he can reproduce his Lille form in red and white. To go further, you have to ask yourself, looking at the body language, how much the boy wants to be successful.
Willian is different. With a great record at Chelsea we know he has the ability to influence games. Arsenal’s coaching staff, in turn, expected him to raise the team, turn them into one of the top four teams. Until now, it was the opposite. But that doesn’t mean the Brazilian can’t return to a youth-energized squad and better results.
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It can easily happen. Just as talent can inspire, hard work and enthusiasm often turn out to be contagious. If your teammate is breaking your guts, you tend to follow suit without support.
This draw in the FA Cup is therefore to continue the progress made in the last three games. Don’t let it slip. Keep that rhythm and adventure lost in the months leading up to Christmas. Plus, the Gunners won’t want to give up on that infamous trophy, won so encouragingly in August and lifted by them so often over the past two decades.
Not by children, however. For them Wembley is something to aim for, while also being part of a process that will hopefully propel Arsenal to higher ground.
Youth, in this case, is not wasted on young people.
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I’ve been there many times. You walk into a basic locker room barely big enough for 11 players, let alone the small army accompanying a Premier League team.
In the area, four or five dripping showers do not look too promising. It will be a hot water race afterwards.
Then you take a look at a field that is bare in patches and bobbly in others, nothing like the perfect surfaces you play on every week. At this point, top footballers face an important choice. They can either ignore the less than luxurious environment or let the situation affect them and not compete properly.
As a manager, this will be Jose Mourinho’s first concern.
If his Tottenham players think they are too good to share a pitch with their Northern Premier League opponents, the afternoon will become more uncomfortable than it should be.
The 2-0 win over Sheffield United last Saturday was both comfortable and complete, the kind of display that will really appeal to Palace boss Roy Hodgson ahead of a draw he could probably take or leave.
Don’t get me wrong, he’ll want a good display to keep the momentum going, but if a very changed squad ends up falling to Wolves, I can’t see Hodgson losing much sleep.
He was speaking this week about Max Meyer, a player who barely sniffed first-team action this season. When he first arrived at the club I thought the German playmaker might come in handy in his delicate industry.
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But Meyer failed to make a proper mark and is now suffering within a deeper squad that includes the talented Eberechi Eze operating in the same position.
As a result, Molineux could serve as a platform for Meyer to impress during this month’s transfer window.
On the bright side, it could be a good chance for some struggling Chelsea performers to find some form.
Timo Werner, for example, might be able to end his goal drought and then look forward to the upcoming games in a better frame of mind.
The same goes for Kai Havertz, following an interrupted and difficult start. As long as the attitude is good, the two Germans can use the visit of the Ligue Deux Morecambe as a springboard.
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Frank Lampard, of course, can’t afford slippage after a few lackluster displays from his expensive group.
It is very important to select the team well. He must find the best balance against a team that has nothing to lose and should be full of racing, having not played since Boxing Day, due to a Covid-19 outbreak.
This weekend get £ 10 free bet with Betfair, when you bet £ 10 on a single Premier League multi game.
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