Mikel Arteta ‘makes decision’ to ignore Jamie Carragher advice as £30m star ‘put up for sale’

Arsenal are set to ignore Jamie Carragher by offloading a senior star this summer.

That’s according to The Times, who are reporting that the Gunners are set to take an unexpected measure in a bid to recoup some of their heavy spending during the summer so far. With just days remaining in the window, Arsenal’s balance sheet is tilted heavily towards the spending column after more than £200million worth of signings.

A new defender could yet arrive on top of that following Jurrien Timber’s long-term injury, but there will also be sales.

The Gunners are expected to offload Nicolas Pepe and Rob Holding among others, and a new player appears to have been added to the transfer list. The report claims Emile Smith Rowe could be sold ahead of Friday afternoon’s deadline, with Transfermarkt valuing him at around £30m.

Smith Rowe burst onto the scene with the Gunners, but he has struggled to game time amid the emergence of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli over the last year to 18 months. As a result, the 23-year-old could be sold, and that would go against the advice of pundit Carragher.

The Liverpool legend said of Smith Rowe back in late 2021: “I mentioned his lack of goals at this moment and that’s the only thing he needs in his game.

“He’s been outstanding again, certainly that first-half. When he gets on his bike you’re not catching him. He’s as quick with the ball as he is without it. He gets a little bit of fortune no doubt, that deflection off [Tyrone] Mings. He’s fantastic when he runs with the ball, he’s never out of control and he gets that little bit of luck we all need at times.

“Just wrong foots the goalkeeper. His fourth Premier League goal and if he adds that to his game we have got a star. He’s as good as anyone in the league when he’s running with the ball. He can use both feet, he never looks like he’s out of control, and the pace at which he can actually run with the ball at his feet. We have so many special players in this country, especially in attacking areas. We have an abundance of talent and Smith Rowe is one of them.”

Smith Rowe is under contract at Arsenal until 2026 as things stand.