GUNS HAVE LIONS ARTS
Mikel stars would never snub an England call-up
MIKEL ARTETA insists that Arsenal’s young England contingent are all desperate to play for their country.
Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale both made Gareth Southgate’s latest squad, while Emile Smith Rowe and Ben White narrowly missed out.
But there is no chance any of them would ever snub an England call-up – as a number of other Three Lions starlets have this time round.
Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood, Borussia Dortmund teenager Jude Bellingham and Chelsea winger Callum HudsonOdoi all asked NOT to be picked for the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and San Marino.
Rest assured, that is not an issue for Arsenal’s England contenders as they bang on Southgate’s door with their superb displays at club level.
And Emirates boss Arteta (above) would love his gang of four to be representing the country at the time the World Cup finals.
Asked about the prospect of Saka and Co
ALL lighting up Qatar 2022, the Spaniard said: “It would be great for them and great for the club because that would mean that they have been performing at that level – which is the top level. “And that will mean we have probably been very successful.” Southgate name-checked Smith Rowe, 21, and White, 24, among those close to breaking into his senior squad. Arteta understands why they are still waiting, given the competition and depth of talent available to Southgate. But he is confident their time will come if they continue to perform as they have been during Arsenal’s nine-game unbeaten run. Playmaker Smith Rowe has scored four goals in six outings while White has been integral to an increasingly rock-solid defence, which boasts six clean sheets in that impressive sequence.
Ahead of today’s home clash with struggling Watford, Arteta added: “The squad the England team is able to put together is incredible. They are showing in every tournament the level they have.
“Ben, no question, has the ability and now the performances to be there. In the end, Gareth has to make the decision and Ben has to continue exactly where he is.
“If you look at his progression in the last two seasons he’s going in the right direction.”
The same applies to Smith Rowe. Arteta said: “Consistency and again increase his level. There are players with 300 games in this league who never played for the national team. We want everything to be so quick.
“Be patient. It’s the first year he’s having these consecutive performances and at a level where you’re considering that option.
“It doesn’t have to happen straight away. Sometimes that’s good. It will happen.”