Mikel Arteta isn’t fazed by Emile Smith Rowe’s omission from the latest England squad, insisting the Arsenal midfielder’s senior call-up will come when the time is right.
On Thursday, Gareth Southgate named a 25-man squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and San Marino which included Gunners stars Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale.
But Smith Rowe and Ben White failed to make the cut despite their terrific recent form for the north London club.
21-year-old Smith Rowe in particular has been a standout performer this season, registering three goals and two assists in 10 Premier League games.
But Arteta sympathised with the ‘difficult’ decisions Southgate has to make and is glad that his players are giving the Three Lions boss a selection headache.
‘He [Smith Rowe] should be happy if people are gutted and questioning any decision because that tells you the level he is playing at,’ said Arteta on Friday.
‘Like everything that has happened in his career, it will come at the right moment.
‘We don’t know if now is the right moment, Gareth knows better than us to judge about the role he can have it that team. He has decided now is not the right moment. I’m sure it was a very thoughtful process.
‘Gareth has to make so difficult choices. He has so many options. What I like, our players are performing at a level where they are giving problems for selection to Gareth and his staff.
‘That pleases me because I know they have the level to do it and it will be about the time when the manager picks the right moment to select them.’
Aaron Ramsdale, however, is back in the squad and could make his senior England debut after a top start to his Gunners career.
‘I’m really happy for him, to see him back there,’ said Arteta. ‘The rest is the decision Gareth and the coaching team has to take. What he needs to do is keep performing at that level and be humble.’
Gareth Southgate’s England squad
Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (West Bromwich Albion), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), Declan Rice (West Ham United), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
Forwards: Tammy Abraham (AS Roma), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
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