Arsenal’s 6-0 victory over Sheffield United on Monday night was an impressive result, with Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, and Ben White all finding the net. The Gunners’ dominant performance kept them in contention with title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City. However, despite the resounding win, some Arsenal fans expressed their dissatisfaction with Mikel Arteta’s substitution choices.

Arteta opted to bring on players like Fabio Vieira, Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, and Cedric Soares, while Emile Smith-Rowe remained on the bench for the entirety of the game. This decision frustrated some supporters who believed Smith-Rowe deserved a chance to play. The 23-year-old has had limited game time this season, managing only 357 minutes across all competitions. Although he had a knee ιnjury that kept him out for a period, fans felt he should have been given an opportunity in the recent match.

One fan expressed their frustration, stating that Cedric was brought on before Smith-Rowe, which they found to be a joke. They suggested Arteta could have substituted Ben White and played Partey at right-back as he did earlier in the season, allowing Smith-Rowe to feature in midfield. Another fan speculated that Arteta’s decisions over the past six months indicated he was done with Smith-Rowe. There were even suggestions that the young midfielder should consider leaving the club in the summer to avoid wasting his career.

Despite the concerns of some fans, Smith-Rowe did make cameo appearances against Newcastle and Burnley. He will be hoping to get more playing time in the upcoming match against Brentford. Smith-Rowe, who came through the ranks at Arsenal, had a successful 2021/22 campaign under Arteta, scoring ten goals after being given the prestigious No.10 shirt. However, his future at the club appears uncertain, and it may be necessary for him to seek opportunities elsewhere to revive his career.