18 June 2023 , 11:03
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Emile Smith Rowe has vowed to "fight for my place and get back in the team" after only playing a combined 195 minutes for Arsenal last season.
The 22-year-old tore his groin in Arsenals' 3-1 loss to Manchester United last September and was forced to undergo surgery. However, after recovering from the operation, he then developed an infection after returning to training.
And when Smith Rowe finally returned to action in January, he did not start a single Premier League game with Mikel Arteta reluctant to rotate his side during a title race. Despite admitting it was the "hardest season of my career", Smith Rowe has no plans to leave the Emirates anytime soon.
"I just want to be on the pitch," Smith Rowe told the Times. "This was the hardest season of my career. It was tough, but we were in a title race and I understand the manager isn't going to change the team if we're winning every game.
"I just tried to stay positive and train as well as I could. The other players and Mikel were great with me, kept me feeling connected. But it was tough, a long season. I won't lie."
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There had been suggestions Arsenal may look to sell Smith Rowe this summer, but the player says he will not be going anywhere. "Arsenal are my club and I'm not going to give up until [Arteta] says he doesn't want me," he added. "But that's not the case. He wants me as part of the team and I want to fight for my place and get back in the team."
Speaking last month, Arteta admitted he feels responsible for "three or four" Arsenal players with "huge potential" like Smith Rowe not getting enough game time. "I have to be critical of myself," he said. "My job is to get the best out of 24 players we have available and I haven't been able to do that.
Smith Rowe is looking to get back to his best with England's U21 side this summer (The FA via Getty Images)"There are three or four I would say that still have huge potential but for different reasons, they haven't been able to do that [this season]. Whether it's injuries or game time or whether it's because I haven't had the opportunity or I have decided not to play them enough."
Smith Rowe has three years left on his current contract and is hoping to get back to his best at this summer's Euro U21 championships, which begins on June 22. Smith Rowe is one of several stars named in Lee Carsley's squad, with England among the favourites to win te tournament
Chelsea's Noni Madueke and Levi Colwill, Liverpool's Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones, Aston Villa's Jacob Ramsey, Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White and Tottenham's Oliver Skipp are all in the squad, having been Premier League regulars last season. England have not won the tournament since 1984.