Many Arsenal fans were left heartbroken when Emile Smith Rowe left the club in the summer.
The Englishman was an absolute fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium. Everyone in and around the club loved him, and the hope was that he would stay at Arsenal forever.
However, after two seasons in which he struggled with injuries and game time, he decided to try his luck elsewhere. Fulham came calling and Arsenal sold Smith Rowe for around £35 million.
Arsenal have moved on from Smith Rowe, but something that belonged to the Hale End star is still up for grabs.
Ethan Nwaneri is Emile Smith Rowe’s successor at Arsenal
During the United States tour in the summer of 2024, Arsenal fans all became convinced that Ethan Nwaneri is the perfect Smith Rowe replacement.
The teenager impressed everyone with his performances in pre-season, but what he has done in the two EFL Cup games he has played has been even better.
Nwaneri has scored thrice in two games and has become a household name. He is a superstar in the making and is destined to have a huge future.
The attacking midfielder will be able to sign a professional contract right after he turns 18 in March 2025. Arsenal will definitely tie him down to a long-term deal then, but we think they should do more.
Back in 2021, when Smith Rowe agreed to sign a new contract, Arsenal gifted him the number 10 shirt that previously belonged to Mesut Ozil.
That iconic shirt has been vacant since Smith Rowe left Arsenal, and we think Nwaneri should be given that number at the end of this season, after he signs a new contract.
That would be a huge statement, but we think he should be rewarded with that trust next season.
READ MORE: Ethan Nwaneri has just done something at Arsenal that even Thierry Henry couldn’t do
Nwaneri could do what Smith Rowe couldn’t
Smith Rowe was given the number 10 shirt a week before his 21st birthday in July 2021.
The Englishman scored 11 goals in his first campaign with that iconic shirt number on his back, but he didn’t score a single goal in the following two seasons.
Injuries really killed Smith Rowe’s Arsenal career and that was the biggest reason why he did not fulfil the potential he had in the famous red and white.
If Nwaneri gets the number 10 shirt, things could be very different. He arguably has a higher ceiling than Smith Rowe and has the ability to become an absolute superstar.
We think Nwaneri, unlike Smith Rowe, will fulfil his potential at Arsenal.
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