The departure of Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal has not been welcomed heartily by many of the club’s supporters.
Smith Rowe left the Gunners to join Fulham on August 2, 2024, for a fee of €31.8 million.
Emile Smith Rowe’s exit from Arsenal has elicited mixed reactions from the fans, as some were keen on him fulfilling his potential, while others felt the Englishman wasn’t at the level of the club and as such he should be gotten rid of.
Arsenal And Emile Smith Rowe
The 24-year-old is an academy graduate of the Gunners and he burst onto the scene on September 26, 2018, aged 18 years, 1 month, and 29 days.
Smith Rowe was handed his debut by manager Unai Emery and he put up an impressive display against Brentford in the EFL Cup, as Arsenal secured a 3-1 third-round win.
In January 2019, Emile Smith Rowe moved to RB Leipzig on loan to further his development.
However, Smith Rowe played just 3 times for the Bundesliga club due to a recurring groin injury.
Apparently, RB Leipzig still made attempts to sign him permanently in the subsequent summer despite the injury, as they saw him as a huge prospect.
In July 2019, Emile Smith Rowe returned to rehab at Arsenal for the first half of the campaign.
In January 2020, Smith Rowe moved to Huddersfield Town on loan, playing an important role in helping them avoid relegation to the EFL League One.
When Did He Reach His Biggest Heights At Arsenal?
Emile Smith Rowe established himself as a key player for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta when he returned from the loan move in the summer of 2020.
In July 2021, he was handed the number 10 shirt vacated by Mesut Özil, and he signed a long-term contract.
In the 2021/22 season, Smith Rowe was phenomenal for Arsenal, scoring ten goals in the Premier League and was nominated for the Premier League Young Player of the Season and the PFA Young Player of the Year awards.
Since his glittering display that campaign, Emile Smith Rowe pretty much became more of a squad player for Mikel Arteta.
He couldn’t usurp Martin Odegaard, who became a mainstay in the attacking midfield department of Arsenal.
Odegaard arrived at Arsenal on a permanent deal in the summer of 2021, having impressed during his loan spell that spanned from January to June 2021.
Who Should Be Blamed For Emile Smith Rowe’s Exit From Arsenal?
His departure can be viewed from two angles, performance-wise and the preference view.
Performance
Following his stellar display in the 2021/22 season, Emile Smith Rowe couldn’t replicate such brilliance in the 2022/23 season, as he scored no goal and provided 2 assists in 15 appearances.
Certainly, this is an indication that his performance level had dropped, and given the intense competition for a place at Arsenal, he needed to be at his best.
The Gunners have moved from fighting for a place in the top 4 to aspiring to win the Premier League title and as such, manager Mikel Arteta demands the best from his players.
Unfortunately, Smith Rowe’s performance couldn’t match Arsenal’s demands and that could have been a reason for his departure.
Preference
There is always a human angle to football management and it can be said that boss Mikel Arteta preferred other players in his midfield unit over Emile Smith Rowe.
Odegaard has been stellar since joining Arsenal permanently and his performance earned him the captain armband ahead of the 2022/23 season.
This meant that it was going to be difficult for Spanish tactician Arteta to bench Martin Odegaard to hand Smith Rowe playing time.
Emile Smith Rowe can also function in the central midfield area and on the left side of midfield but he would also be battling for places alongside players like Fabio Vieira, Declan Rice, Jorginho, and Thomas Partey.
This shows that a spot in Mikel Arteta’s XI wasn’t guaranteed and you can rightly say that joining Fulham was the best option for him.
In his final season at Arsenal, he made 19 appearances for the Gunners, scoring no goal and providing 2 assists.
Who Is Emile Smith Rowe?
He is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Premier League club Fulham.
Emile Smith Rowe Personal Information?
Smith Rowe was born on July 28, 2000, in Croydon, London, England, to father Leslie Rowe and mother Fiona Smith.
Emile Smith Rowe’s father, Leslie, worked in foster care service for Islington Council, whilst his mother worked in social care.
Smith Rowe is of English, Jamaican, and Malaysian descent. The footballer’s paternal grandfather hailed from Jamaica and his maternal grandmother was born in Rembau, Malaysia.
Emile Smith Rowe’s Market Value And Net Worth?
His market value according to Transfermkt is €22 million, and his net worth is estimated to be within the region of €10 million – €14 million.
Emile Smith Rowe Career Stats?
Smith Rowe has made 137 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 20 goals and providing 16 assists in all competitions.
Internationally, Emile Smith Rowe has made 3 appearances for England, scoring 1 goal and providing 1 assist.
Achievements?
He has won two Community Shield titles with Arsenal.
