Ian Wright has pinpointed a “striking problem” that is affecting the performances of Arsenal and England starlet Emile Smith Rowe.
The 21-year-old has been one of Arsenal’s star performers over the past couple of years.
Smith Rowe has grabbed ten goals and two assists from his 31 appearances across all competitions this season.
Arsenal, Spurs & United pay price of Premier League’s imbalance
The midfielder has only started three of Arsenal’s last six games in the Premier League. They have only won two of these games.
Smith Rowe played 30 minutes as the Gunners were beaten 1-0 by Southampton on Saturday afternoon. He had a chance to score in the 73rd minute, but his mishit effort was saved by Fraser Forster.
Wright believes Smith Rowe needs to show more “composure” in front of goal:
“Look at Arsenal here, Emile Smith Rowe, he really slashed at that, you want a bit of composure. You want a bit of calmness there,” Wright said (quotes via Football London).
“You look at the way he really smashes himself at this. All you want really is to get on that and get a clean contact on target. The goalkeeper is still stretching to try and save it.
“If he gets a good contact then he probably scores. The problem is striking. And taking chances. You saw those chances, they weren’t half-chances. They were good chances.”
Elsewhere, Kevin Campbell believes Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz would be a “great” signing for Arsenal:
“100 per cent. I think he’d be a great partner for Partey,” Campbell told Football Insider.
“You can see us struggling in midfield right now. [Mohamed] Elneny is not the answer. He will be gone at the end of the season.
“[Granit] Xhaka is our second best because he is experienced in there but I still have a question mark over him.
“Douglas Luiz is hungry, young and is a good ball player. I think he could come in and do a really good job.
“We need numbers as well. It is not just a matter on signing starters. We need a squad. At the moment our squad is not up to scratch. We are weaker than other teams.”
