‘Could’ve left’… Journalist names the only ‘major’ Arsenal player who may have gone in January

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It was a very quiet January transfer window at Arsenal.

There were no new signings, and, interestingly, there weren’t any high-profile departures either.

Indeed, despite plenty of chat about the likes of Aaron Ramsdale or Eddie Nketiah leaving, Arsenal kept the squad together.

Speaking on ShotsTV, Chris Wheatley has been dissecting the lack of outwards movement at Arsenal during the January window, and he stated that Emile Smith Rowe was the only major player who could’ve left during the winter window.

Emile Smith Rowe could’ve gone

Wheatley shared what he knows about Smith Rowe.

“Arsenal batted away West Ham’s enquiries. He’s a really talented player Smith Rowe, but he’s had injury problems in recent months. Arteta likes Smith Rowe and that’s why he’s given him minutes. The would have been departures, but Arteta wants to have a full squad for this run-in, Smith Rowe was the only major first-team player who could’ve left but Arsenal decided to keep him at the club,” Wheatley said.

Should’ve gone

This may not be a popular opinion, but, in our view, Smith Rowe may have been best off leaving Arsenal in January.

As much as we want to see Smith Rowe performing well at Arsenal, the fact of the matter is that he’s way down the pecking order at the Emirates right now.

He’s not getting the gametime he deserves, and there are a number of talented players ahead of him in the hierarchy as things stand.

At the age of 23 now, Smith Rowe needs to be playing regularly to aid his development and get back into the England team, but, as things stand, it looks like he’s set for another six months on the bench until the transfer window re-opens.

The best thing for Smith Rowe’s career may be to leave Arsenal in the near future.