Arsenal made the difficult decision to sell popular academy product Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham this summer.
Smith Rowe was a key performer when he first broke into the Arsenal first-team as a youngster, and helped spark a revival when Mikel Arteta’s side were at their lowest point.
However, injuries led to Smith Rowe losing his place in the side, and he started just three games in the last two seasons.
Arsenal sold Smith Rowe for an initial £27m, rising to £34m in addons, and the Englishman departed after over a decade at the club. As a talented midfielder and academy product, he was popular amongst the fans and teammates.
Fulham signed him from Arsenal, and he went straight into the starting XI for the Premier League opener, away to Manchester United, but fans are divided over his performance.
Arsenal fans divided over Emile Smith Rowe Fulham debut
Smith Rowe showed flashes of quality in an otherwise quiet display before being substituted in the 63rd minute, with Fulham eventually going on to lose 1-0 in a brutal manner as previous Arsenal target Joshua Zirkzee scored on his Man United debut.
Fans have taken to X to analyse his performance, but whilst some were impressed by him on a rare start, many were critical of Smith Rowe’s failure to impose himself on the game.
“I understand he had to be sold but please…He’s playing deeper in a new club in a new role, no way you’re evaluating him on arbitrary stats for just his first 45 mins,” one fan stated in response to criticism of the 24-year-old.
“Mate Emile Smith Rowe is oozing quality. He’s going to show the world just how good he is,” a fan posted during the first half.
However, some pointed out how the midfielder physically dropped off in the second half, and his lack of intensity perhaps showed why he could not get into the Arsenal side last season.
“Smith Rowe will have a good season hopefully but if you can’t see why we sold him then idk what to tell you,” an Arsenal fan claimed.
“He doesn’t see the bigger picture when he plays. He loves one time short passes, it helps with flow but he doesn’t assert himself,” a fan added.
“Just not on our level struggling to impose himself an he’s not existence oop (out of possession), intensity dropped off too at 50 mins,” a fan pointed out.
Emile Smith Rowe needs time to settle at Fulham
Arsenal fans who saw Smith Rowe at his best over the years are well aware of his true quality, and his performance at Old Trafford was still far from his top level.
It was Smith Rowe’s debut for his new club, and his fourth start in the last three seasons of Premier League football. Naturally, these were not easy conditions to thrive in.
His physical drop-off before his exited showed that he still has some way to go to reach full fitness, but it is still very early days for him at Fulham, and it will take time for Smith Rowe to settle and showcase his true quality.
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