Mikel Artetas stance on two Arsenal transfers tells Smith Rowe where he stands

Emile Smith Rowe remained at Arsenal in the summer despite a lack of involvement and Mikel Arteta could be willing to green light his exit whilst denying other players moves away

Mikel Arteta will stand in the way of a transfer if he's determined to keep a player, but appears willing to sanction a potential departure for Emile Smith Rowe.

The Arsenal boss has overseen a huge turnover in players since he arrived in late 2019, turning the Gunners from a midtable outfit as they were then to Premier League title challengers. There are still squad players who are playing sporadic roles.

Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu are two of these, with neither men part of Arteta's first choice starting XI at present. But Arteta actively stopped the Japanese star leaving in the summer as Inter Milan circled, despite the arrival of Jurrien Timber, a move which - prior to the Dutchman's injury - pushed Tomiyasu further down the defensive pecking order.

The situation is different for the Arsenal academy graduate however. Chelsea were linked with a move late in the August window, yet didn't make much headway, but now he could be allowed to leave in January if the right offer were forthcoming.

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