Ex-Terriers man ESR is top Gunner
Who could have seen this coming just four months ago?
After starting the year excised from the side and sent out on loan, the winger has come back looking like a new man under Carlos Corberan: dangerous on the ball, a real threat with his delivery from set pieces, and an incredible worker off the ball to help give Pipa license to get forward.
There is no higher compliment we can pay him than these: Town look an infinitely worse team when he is not on the pitch now, and we’re no longer at all surprised when he puts in good performances. bringing a level of class and incision that Town had not seen since Aaron Mooy’s departure.
A particular mention for his brilliant performance against Bristol City in February: the first of just three 9/10 performances by any Town players this season, and the very highest-rated showing by any Terrier in the 2020 by fans too.
This is the position that gave us most pause for thought in our penand-ink approximation at producing a team: should it be Josh Koroma or Karlan Grant? The two have near-identical records in 2020: 19 games each, with Grant scoring 7 goals and Koroma 6.
We were worried our preference for Koroma might just be recency bias (I mean, we say worried; we weren’t calling our mum to talk it through it anything), but crunching the numbers on those player ratings made very clear that Koroma must get the nod.
Along with Schofield and Edmonds-Green, the winger’s emergence is the perfect advert the club wanted for why they appointed Corberan and put so much faith in the young players that were already at the club rather than going out and buying a raft of new players in the summer. The sooner he is back from his current injury the better.
We considered making another of those executive decisions to put Steve Mounie in the side, with the former fans’ favourite scoring 6 goals in 19 appearances to Campbell’s 5 in 39.
But as we have long argued, Campbell’s contribution to the side is about more than just goals. This team conceded fewer goals with the striker on the pitch than any other player last season, and have scored more goals with him on the pitch than any other player this season.
There are times when he is not quite the right tool for the job, but on the whole he’s an asset: quite simply, Campbell puts in the hard miles to lighten the load on others around him.
IT will come as no surprise to Huddersfield Town supporters that Emile Smith Rowe has quickly captured the imagination of Arsenal fans after finally being given a serious chance to strut his stuff in the Premier League.
The 20-year-old enjoyed a successful loan spell with the Terriers after joining in January and scored the crucial goal that ensured the club’s safety from relegation to League One, and has now started to shine on English football’s biggest stage after being given back-toback Premier League starts.
An assist in a 3-1 win over Chelsea was followed by another bright performance in a 1-0 win over Brighton as ESR helped the Gunner to back-toback victories after a run of seven games without a win.
Club legend Ian Wright led the praise for Smith Rowe, telling BBC Sport:
“The Arsenal fans know all about these guys - Emile Smith Rowe , Saka, Martinelli - but what was brilliant about what they did today, it wasn’t quite working in the first-half, but it’s the bravery they showed.
“They continued to try and get into spaces, and try to stretch Brighton and in the second-half, it worked a lot better. Smith Rowe, his energy, his touch, his fitness. The way they break, it’s fantastic to see.”
Here’s what the fans and others had to say on Twitter.
SamHartJourno: I remember this time last year, ESR started against Everton and looked slightly out of his depth, although he showed glimpses of his quality. Fast forward a year and he deserves to start every week. A credit to Huddersfield, Arsenal and the player himself for how he’s developed.
Joe Chapman: Jack Grealish is in his prime at 25. ESR is only 20. I know he’s not as good but he’s reminded me of him the last two games.
Brett Claxton: Remember talking to @StevenChicken about Smith Rowe last season when he was on loan at Huddersfield and being told how there’s definitely a spark to him. Glad to see he’s been able to have a moment to shine for Arsenal this season (and is doing a good job so far too).
Abu Alex Mathew: With ESR, it’s probably the first time I saw Arsenal drive the ball through the middle after a long time. Very effective in utilising space and creating chances.
RohanJivan: ESR was classy. First half, he struggled to get on the ball. Second half, however, moving more towards the right, him and Saka developed a dangerous partnership.
He understands space, is aware of his surroundings, technically strong, draws fouls and is efficient on the ball ... playing first-team football elsewhere, learning his trade has really helped him.