“HE’S A GREAT PLAYER, NO DOUBT… BUT ARTETA IS WASTING HIM!” – ARNE SLOT TAKES AIM AT ARSENAL’S HANDLING OF STAR MIDFIELDER
BREAKING NEWS: Liverpool manager Arne Slot has sent shockwaves through the football world with explosive remarks about one Arsenal player he believes is being criminally underused. Slot, never one to mince words, openly questioned Mikel Arteta’s squad management, claiming the Gunners are “suffering” because of it.
After Arsenal’s inconsistent start to the campaign, Slot didn’t hesitate to voice his opinion:
“He’s a great player, no doubt about that. But Arteta doesn’t know how to use him—and that’s why they’re suffering.”
The Dutchman stressed that the player has the ability to change games single-handedly, yet his opportunities remain restricted under Arteta’s system. While Slot avoided naming him outright, fans and pundits immediately pointed to Emile Smith Rowe, the once-celebrated “Croydon De Bruyne,” who has endured a frustrating spell on the fringes.
Smith Rowe’s story is well known: once Arsenal’s brightest homegrown talent, bursting through with creativity, goals, and flair, he has since slipped down the pecking order. Injuries have played a part, but even when fit, he often watches from the bench while Arsenal grind through matches crying out for his dynamism.
Slot’s comments have split Arsenal fans. Some argue he’s spot on—claiming Arteta’s stubborn loyalty to certain names is costing the team valuable creativity. Others defend the manager, insisting Smith Rowe is being carefully managed until he’s ready for a full return.
But Slot doubled down, firing a statement that will sting in North London:
“If he was at another club, he’d be playing every single week. Arsenal have him, but they don’t know how to use him.”
Already, whispers are spreading that rival Premier League clubs—and even Europe’s elite—could circle if Smith Rowe continues to be overlooked.
For Arsenal, the stakes are high. With ambitions to push for the Premier League title and make waves in Europe, questions are now being asked: are they making life harder by leaving one of their biggest attacking sparks on the sidelines?
One thing is clear: Slot has put Arteta under the microscope. What Arsenal fans have murmured for months, a rival manager has now shouted out loud—the Gunners are sitting on a weapon they refuse to unleash.
