Hale End graduates Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson are all surplus to requirements.

The other day I read a Tweet that was eye opening. It went along the lines of:

“The same fans that want us to give youth a chance are also those complaining we are yet to sign anyone of note. Do they not realise that the superstars they demand will be coming in above those players they want Arteta to give game time to.”

And that is exactly the situation Smith Rowe, Nketiah and Nelson are in.

Smith Rowe turns 24 soon and has only completed one full season in his senior career – 2 years ago in 2021/22.

During that year, he was exceptional, but injuries have taken their toll in the last two years and are now operating at a much higher level.

No longer a youngster with potential, injuries have been part of Smith Rowe’s career since his academy days. He reminds me a lot of Darren Anderton – plenty of talent but will never be able to stay fit. This is the summer for us to cash in.

Not only can Smith Rowe no longer be relied upon, he is also not the standard required for title challengers. For proof of this, the clubs interested in signing him are mid-table Premier League sides – Fulham, West Ham.

There has been plenty of talk around signing a new left winger and potentially someone to play in the left hand “8” position. The players we are being linked to in this position – Nico Williams, Eberechi Eze, Bruno Guimaraes – all are better than Smith Rowe.

Smith Rowe barely got a sniff last season as he found himself behind Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus on the left wing, and Declan Rice and Kai Havertz more centrally. A new wideman or midfielder will push Smith Rowe down another position in the pecking order, and even less opportunities to play.

To move the team forward and turn us from title challengers to champions, we need to improve on what we have. And signing (for example) Nico Williams is clearly a step up from Smith Rowe. You simply can not demand more game time for Smith Rowe whilst also demanding we sign a player that is better than him!

Last season, only Nketiah got a sniff, but as the season went on his game time become more limited.

Unlike Smith Rowe, who some fans still hold a candle for, everyone is united in that last season should probably be Nketiah’s last.

He has done a decent job as a back up striker as we returned to the top 4 and then onto title challengers, but to make the next step up we need better.

That better is already in place in Kai Havertz.

Nketiah started the season as our 2nd choice striker, covering Gabriel Jesus. By the time we reached the business end of the season, Havertz had established himself as 1st choice, with Nketiah relegated to 3rd.

There is a debate to be had as to whether Havertz is the right man to lead the line in 2024/25. Any incoming striker needs to be better than the German. But where there is no debate is that Eddie is now no longer required.

With no new forward, Nketiah is 3rd choice. If someone comes in he will be 4th choice. Like Smith Rowe, this could be the last summer we can get a premium for Nketiah before his value begins to drop.

Finally with have Reiss Nelson.

Turning 25 in December, Nelson’s Arsenal career has never really ignited and he highlights just how tough the step up is from talented academy footballer to playing regular senior football for a top team.

There is a decent Premier League footballer in Nelson. But his level is Crystal Palace or West Ham. Not The Arsenal.

We go and sign a new striker, winger and midfielder this summer, then Nketiah, Nelson and Smith Rowe will all find themselves as one further down in the pecking order. They all struggled for game time in the second half of 2023/24. More, better players will just see them get even less chances.

And we are not in the position to be giving them chances. You do not play them ahead of a better player just because they came through the academy, or because you like them as a person. Title winning teams need to be clinical when it comes to giving squad players a shot.

Where Arsenal are in a strong position is all 3 have decent lengths on contracts, are not on huge money and can still play a role of a back-up dancer. We do not need to dump them for cheap. We can stay strong and demand a premium.

Nothing less than £80m is what I would want to see come in for the trio:

Emile Smith Rowe – £35-45m
Eddie Nketiah – £30-35m
Reiss Nelson – £15-20m

All 3 are home grown and talented. Being not good enough for The Arsenal does not mean they are not good enough for mid table teams.

You can certainly see the trio going to Fulham, West Ham or Crystal Palace and making a huge impact. And they are better than what those teams already have in their respective positions.

I expect all 3 to leave Arsenal this summer. But they will only leave if our valution is met.

Keenos