Arsenal secured a third straight win on Saturday night to go top with a classy victory over Bournemouth.
Martin Odegaard grabbed a brace on the south coast as the Gunners continued their 100 per cent record to set the pace, with Mikel Arteta's winning formula standing him in good stead. The Spaniard oversaw an impressive summer of recruitment that has bolstered the club's chances of a top-four finish.
An opening-night win at Crystal Palace set the tone and Arteta has refused to deviate from the starting XI he deployed at Selhurst Park since. Gabriel Jesus has led the line with Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli his supporting cast. The quartet have all had goal involvements in the first three games and look to be gelling well.
As a result, Emile Smith Rowe continues to be overlooked and the club's No 10 has been limited to less than 30 minutes - albeit he was unavailable for the opening game - as he waits patiently for his opportunity. The 22-year-old signed a new deal last year and looked to be a mainstay in the team, but already there looks to be a barrier.
Arteta confessed previously that the classy playmaker is hugely versatile, which is an asset but can also be a hinderance. Being unable to nail down one position can in fact make you a jack of all trades and a master of none as competition for places hots up.
In February, the Arsenal boss said: "I think Smith Rowe can play in four positions. He can play as a left-winger, he can play as a left attacking midfielder, right attacking midfielder and he can play as a 9; very, very well I think."
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Smith Rowe himself, who will no doubt be pushing for more minutes, has pinpointed himself as a natural 10, but to play in that position he would have to usurp new club captain Odegaard. On his best role, Smith Rowe has said: "I see myself as a No 10, on the inside, but at the same time, because of the way we play at Arsenal, if I am on the wing, then the manager is telling me to drift inside and be natural like a No 10 anyway."
Arsenal enjoyed the benefit of having no European football last season, which they won't have this term, meaning they are competing on four fronts. Smith Rowe's chances will inevitably come but with the team being so effective with their current forward quartet, it is hard to see Arteta making changes.
