Emil Smithrow: England's first call for Arsenal midfielders for world cup qualifiers

Marcus Rashford, James Ward-Prouss, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw have not reported to England ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and San Marino; Amilo scored for Arsenal in three consecutive Premier League games

Emil Smith Rowe was first drafted into the Senior England Men's Team.

Arsenal's 21-year-old attacking midfielder joined England at St. George's Park on Monday before taking on Albania and San Marino in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

He was initially ready to join U21 but was selected by manager Gareth Southgate after Marcus Rashford, James Ward-Prouss, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw failed to report for international assignments.

Marcus Rashford will remain at Manchester United to focus on recovering to full fitness, while Shaw is currently undergoing concussion treatment at the club.

Southgate began preparing 22 players for Albania and San Marino.

Smith Rowe was rewarded for his outstanding performance

Smithroe has appeared in all of Arsenal's Premier League games this season and has scored in his last three games.

After hitting the winning goal in Arsenal's 1-0 win over Watford on Sunday, Smith Rowe spoke about his initial elimination by England's senior team.

"It's important that I keep a low profile and keep working hard. No matter who I was recruited, I was happy. ”

The striker will now be linked to Arsenal team-mates Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale.

In Arsenal's 1-0 win over Watford, Smith Rowe scored his fifth goal in eight games, surpassing the total number of goals scored in the entire season last season just a few months after the start of the new season.

"The academy graduate was challenged by Mikel Arteta in his breakthrough season to contribute more goals and he is achieving. Already one of the most exciting young players in the country, Smith Rowe is now taking his game to another level.

"His importance to the club is growing every week. He has scored four goals and two assists in the Premier League so far, making him the highest total of goals scored by an Arsenal player this season. "He's simply amazing," Arteta said recently.

"He hopes to take the chances in England as he did at Arsenal.

The 21-year-old has played an important role in progressing last season and took on the responsibility of putting on the number 10 shirt after signing a new contract with the club he was a teenager in July.

England will need to score four points in the last two group games to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

Last month, England's lead in the first group was cut to three points as they drew 1-1 with Hungary at Wembley, while Poland beat Albania 1-0 to move up to second place.

If Gareth Southgate's side beat Albania at Wembley this week and Poland lost away to Andorra, they could still qualify for one game.

If they draw with Albania, they can also secure their place in the tournament with a match – but only if the odds of Poland losing to the little fish Andorra are slim.

Given that Poland is poised to beat world-ranked Andorra, England are likely to wait until Monday, 15 November, after challenging bottom-placed side San Marino in the final away game of the group stage.

But given their goal difference advantage over Poland, the three points in both games are likely to be all England need to grab top spot and automatically secure a spot in Qatar.