One former Arsenal player has now given his verdict on the prospect of Emile Smith Rowe leaving the club this summer.
Emile Smith Rowe is now on the verge of leaving Arsenal.
The midfielder has been on the books with the North London club since the age of ten. He came through the Hale End academy system and made his first team debut in 2018, before enjoying loan spells with RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town.
The 24-year-old truly established himself in the first team after Mikel Arteta’s appointment at the Emirates Stadium. The 2021/22 season was a breakout campaign for Smith Rowe, as he scored ten Premier League goals and looked to have established himself as the future of the club, alongside fellow academy graduate Bukayo Saka.
However, the three-cap England international’s progress has stalled since that season, as recurrent injury issues and increased competition for game time have seen his opportunities restricted.
Smith Rowe has not scored a goal for Arsenal in any competition for the last two seasons and now looks to be in desperate need of a fresh start.
Fulham look set to give Smith Rowe the change of scenery he needs, and the player will back himself to establish himself as a key player at Craven Cottage. However, Perry Groves is concerned that the decision to let him leave could backfire on the Gunners.
Perry Groves expresses Emile Smith Rowe exit concern
Former Arsenal winger Groves will be sorry to see Smith Rowe leave the club this summer.
Speaking on talkSPORT, the 59-year-old said: “I want him to be on the bench for Arsenal because he is that quality, he is that good, but Arteta has got it and I get it that he needs to go and play.”
Whilst he has struggled to produce his best form in recent campaigns, largely due to the lack of a consistent run in the team, Smith Rowe does still provide strength in depth for Arsenal. He is a talented player capable of making an impact from the bench or rotating into the starting XI.
If Arteta does not replace that option this summer, following Smith Rowe’s exit, then Arsenal could pay for that this season when the fixtures pile up and injuries/suspensions mount. Without the requisite strength in depth in place, the Gunners will not be able to go the distance in the title race.
Ethan Nwaneri is the heir to Smith Rowe at Arsenal
There could well be an internal solution to replacing Smith Rowe available to Arteta in the form of Ethan Nwaneri.
The 17-year-old wonderkid has impressed so far in pre-season, and looks ready to compete at senior level. There is a plan for Nwaneri to take on a bigger role at Arsenal, and Smith Rowe’s departure may well have just cleared a pathway towards greater involvement for the youngster.
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