Arsenal don’t intend to sell Emile Smith Rowe this summer, with the midfielder remaining an important part of Mikel Arteta’s plans, according to a report.

David Ornstein reports for The Athletic that Arsenal have no intention to sell Emile Smith Rowe this summer.

The midfielder still has a contract until 2026, and he remains an important part of Mikel Arteta’s plans, despite his minimal role for the club this season.

Ornstein reports that Arsenal are hoping Smith Rowe shines at the u21 European Championships and in pre-season, before having a big season in 2023/24.

Smith Rowe made 15 appearances for Arsenal this season, amid injury setbacks, providing one assist in the comeback win over Bournemouth and another on the final day of the season against Wolves.

The 22-year-old had been one of Arsenal’s top scorers in the 2021/22 campaign, but his 241 minutes on the pitch made it difficult for him to achieve anything like that again this time around.

Arsenal’s refusal to sell this summer makes sense, as it’s very unlikely they’d get good value for a top English talent after the 2022/23 campaign.

Even if Smith Rowe isn’t part of the Gunners’ long-term plans, it would feel like a waste to let him go for a cut-price fee right now.

Smith Rowe had been linked with an exit in recent days, with some suggestions Arsenal might look to offload him to fund other incomings.

But reports suggested he’d hold talks with the club at the end of the season, and it now appears as if the result of those conversations is that they intend to keep him.

Gunnerblog has confirmed that Arsenal have communicated very clearly to the player that he’s part of next season’s plans.

Smith Rowe’s limited minutes were largely due to his surgery on a damaged tendon in September, ruling him out until the turn of the year.

When he eventually returned to fitness, it was difficult to reintegrate him, with Arsenal in the midst of their title challenge and the midfielders and attackers ahead of him already up to speed.

The hope is now clearly that Smith Rowe will be back on a level playing field and ready to compete with his teammates after a full pre-season.