Emile Smith Rowe is an incredibly popular player at Arsenal, but the time has come to make a difficult decision over his future.
The 23-year-old has made just three Premier League starts in the last two seasons, and with Mikel Arteta aiming to make further additions to his midfield, his prospects of game time next season appear slim.
Smith Rowe is a very talented player at his best, and Arsenal fans admire him greatly, as he graduated from the Hale End Academy at a similar time to Bukayo Saka.
It has been reported that Arsenal have rejected a bid from Fulham for Smith Rowe, and are now seeking a fee in the region of £40m for the Englishman.
Crystal Palace are also interested in him, and a departure now appears to be the most likely outcome. Arsenal have been criticised for their ability to sell players for peak value, but if Edu Gaspar receives a £40m offer for Smith Rowe, it should be accepted.
Arsenal should accept £40m offer for Emile Smith Rowe
12 months ago, the idea of Smith Rowe departing the club permanently would not have been considered at all. However, despite returning from his long-term injury, he found himself far down the pecking order at Arsenal.
It is clear that Smith Rowe needs to be playing regularly to return to his best form, and opportunities will not come for him at Arsenal. A departure whilst his value is still high, and a fresh start elsewhere, would be best for all parties.
If Fulham come back with a £40m, offer, this would eclipse Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alex Iwobi as Arsenal’s record sale.
£40m sale of Emile Smith Rowe would be better Arsenal sale than Alex Iwobi
Arsenal have sold popular Hale End products before, with Unai Emery overseeing the departure of Alex Iwobi in 2019.
Iwobi joined Everton for an initial £28m, which would rise to £40m, and many saw this as a good value deal for Arsenal.
By the time of his departure, Iwobi had made 149 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 15 and assisting 24 times. In his final season, he appeared in 51 games, scoring six times and providing eight assists from the left wing.
Smith Rowe’s final season has been a different story. He appeared 19 times last season, with just four coming from the start, and failed to score.
Overall, Smith Rowe has made 115 appearances for Arsenal, notching up 18 goals and providing 13 assists. As talented as he is, a £40m fee for him would be good business, particularly given that in profit and sustainability terms, he will count as pure profit on Arsenal’s books this summer.
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