RocktheCasbah
I don't think it is. There's such a big drop off from Havertz, Ødegaard, Trossard, and Rice (and every other player who gets regular minutes) to Smith Rowe and someone like Fabio Vieira (and Lokonga, Pépé, and just about every other player who doesn't get minutes) in terms of intensity (both with and without the ball), physical strength and power.
The latter two play like kids, whatever faults the former group have, they're dialled in and focused, much more ruthless and professional. It's not just about pure ability, the kids who want to break in have to press like monsters, win duel after duel, play quickly and with purpose, run hard off the ball, and relentlessly try to positively affect the game - such is the quality of the team we now put on the pitch every week it's a massive jump to go from U21 football, or from being on loan somewhere, or arriving from, say, Sporting Lisbon, and bringing enough to get minutes.
You can see it with the steady improvement of Nelson and Nketiah - two players who by all accounts have great attitudes and are willing learners - Arteta has been patient and worked really hard to get them both to the point where in fits and bursts they can cope in the company of the intensity monsters we see in the first XI.
I'm not saying Smith Rowe doesn't have the right atittude btw, but it takes time, and we'll see if he can step up to it. Right now I'm with Dules, I see him as having a way to go to get to the level required.
