Mikel Arteta - Arsenal
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has acknowledged that he allowed an ‘exceptional’ talent to leave the club when he sanctioned Emile Smith Rowe’s transfer to Fulham.
Smith Rowe ended his long-standing association with the Gunners last summer, completing a move across London in a deal worth over £30 million. Having joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of 10, the playmaker made 80 Premier League appearances for his boyhood club before his departure.
Despite his potential, Smith Rowe struggled with injuries during his time at Arsenal, limiting his impact, particularly in his final season at the Emirates Stadium. However, since joining Fulham, the England international has shown promising form, scoring five goals and providing two assists in the Premier League as Marco Silva’s side climb to eighth in the table.
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Fulham manager Silva recently challenged Smith Rowe to improve his consistency, an issue that also hampered his time at Arsenal. Arteta, while praising the 24-year-old’s quality, attributed his inconsistency largely to recurring injury setbacks.
Emile Smith Rowe
Emile Smith Rowe joined Fulham from Arsenal last summer (Image credit: Getty Images)
Asked about his former player in his pre-Fulham press conference on Monday, Arteta said: “His quality is exceptional. He’s got all the attributes to become a top, top footballer. He was unable to get that consistency with us, especially because of injuries. But he has tremendous quality.”
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Meanwhile, Silva provided his own assessment of Smith Rowe’s performances, acknowledging both his impact and the need for further improvement.
“He’s had good games and others not as good. He needs to find his level to perform consistently well – the Premier League demands a lot from you,” Silva said. “We have been working with him to get him in his best physical shape. He has to take some steps soon. I really like him, trust him, and he’s already had an impact. He will continue to do so in the future.”
Silva further defended the midfielder’s contributions: “People like to focus on the negatives. As a manager, I like to look at the positives. We all expected him to make an impact in every game for Fulham, and he has done so in about half of them.”
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