It’s a case of when and not if Emilie Smith Rowe is confirmed a Fulham player.
His story is not quite the same as Jack Wilshere’s. At 23, he’s still young enough to prove he can perform consistently at the highest level.
Yet the similarities do exist.
An academy graduate predicted to be the future of the club leaving earlier than expected simply because of injuries. All parties are sad because the talent isn’t in question, just the ability to stay healthy.
Having been at the club since the age of 10, the player deserves credit for stepping out of his comfort zone. It would have been an easy for him to stay a squad player at a team he loves, relying on the odd Cup tie for starts.
There are fellow peers from Hales End making a living doing exactly that.
Smith Rowe is too good for that, and for his own development it’s important that he’s got that self-belief to back himself and not tolerate a place on the bench. At his age, he wants to be involved in every Matchday. It’s just depressing it can’t happen in North London.
Rightly or wrong, Smith Rowe has lost the trust of Mikel Arteta. Faith that once existed.
One of the first great things the Spaniard did as a manager was to promote Smith Rowe to regular starter, giving him licence to express himself.
In response to two 8th place finishes, Smith Rowe and Saka became the face of the new Arsenal, the creative responsibility on young shoulders. Smith Rowe would offer double digits from midfield, earning him international recognition with three caps.
If you said 3 seasons later, he be moving to Craven Cottage, no one would have believed you.
Yet, no matter how skilful you are, it means little if you’re not on the pitch.
Surgery was supposed to fix a groin issue that meant there was always little niggles. After the procedure Smith Rowe said for the first time in a while the pain had gone but in reality, it spelled the end of his career at the Emirates.
In the 2023 run in, it was noticeable that when the Gunners needed a goal, the likes of Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, Vieira, even a change of full backs, were all attacking options ahead of Smith Rowe off the bench.
Gooners tried to convince themselves that this was simply management not wanting to throw someone fragile in at the deep end of title race.
The consensus was that preseason would allow the time for Smith Rowe to be integrated back into the group.
He even cancelled his summer so he could represent England at the Under 21 Championships, something he didn’t need to do having already represented the senior side.
That his employers didn’t object though was telling.
Trying Rice as a sole DM should have opened the doors for more opportunities. It’s hard to understand how Vieira could be picked ahead of him or Reiss Nelson in the wide areas.
It can’t be based on ability.
It can only be because his boss saw something in training that he doesn’t like.
A lot will come down to how much faith you have in the current regime’s man management skills.
I have gone on record saying that too many players have been given up on the moment it’s deemed they don’t suit his ethos.
Yet in this instance, we know Arteta rated the player.
We have to assume that having seen him every day, he simply feels like the player has lost his powers.
In that case, a 27 million fee (rising to potentially 34) is great business.
At a time when most are balancing their books with care, making pure profit on a home-grown player shouldn’t be taken for granted.
From a personal point of view, I want Smith Rowe to reignite his career yet if he does that question marks will be asked why he was let go.
The likelihood is “the mind is willing, but the body is not.”
Very Sad
Dan
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We all wish him well, I’m sure but Arsenal needs to sell players – and several of them – in this window. ESR is only the first sold for a fee so there’s a lot more to do.
The likes of Eddie and Nelson, along with Ramsdale and Kiwior still need to be offloaded if at all possible.
I think Smith-Rowe is similar to Willock. A right-footed powerful midfielder with accurate shooting skills, but ordinary at playmaking, injury-prone and not press resistant
Luckily, Arsenal have still got hot prospects like Nwaneri, Oulad M’hand and Patino
OT: Real Sociedad just signed Carlos Soler, so Merino might be heading to the Emirates
Oulad M’hand would have been sold too Hull if he wasnt injured and Patino was alright in the championship. I wouldnt use the term hot prospects.
I hope Oulad M’hand won’t be sold to Hull because he played well against Man United in pre-season
Smith Rowe was looking excellent at the beginning of last season in sub appearances. On his first start in the premier league he looked good too but got injured.
He was then out for three months came back against Nottingham Forest again looking good but picked up another injury in trap g the next week.
I am guessing Arteta decided it was better to wrap him in cotton wool for the rest of the season. He managed one more start against Luton and a handful of sub appearances. It has probably worked as if he had got another injury then we would not have been able to sell him.
If he stays fit he came be the player he once was, although that spell only lasted eighteen months.
If he picks up more injuries then his career will stay in the doldrums.
There was no point us taking the risk, we have the option of moving on but for Fulham it is an opportunity to gain a player with ability that they would not usually see at their club. I am glad they have given him the chance and hope it works out for him.
Seconded
Nice article Dan.
I try not to look at the financial side of this situation, as the club is spending money like never before.
I think it was GB who suggested that MA could be taking notice from our medical team, regarding his fitness issues, but, on reflection, wouldn’t the Fulham medics also have the same opportunity to assess ESR’s fitness?
You bring into the conversation, the names of Vieria and Nelson and I agree with you that these are decisions that are hard to understand.
If reports are true, Nelson would also be available for around the same sterling value as ESR, while Vieria cost the club about the same amount.
In my opinion, this is a simple decision by MA to part company with ESR over Vieria and time will tell if it’s the correct one.
As you say, very sad to see a committed Gooner leaving the club and I believe he will get a standing ovation when he returns to the Emirates.
I think Reis Nelson is as talented as Smith-Rowe and is a specialist wide player, not too hard understand why he was sometimes picked instead in the wide areas.
Surely Smith-Rawe is highly rated at Arsenal, that’s why he was given the no. 10 jersey but it’s just not working. Best they sold him, next up Nelson and Nketia.
Out of topic, now that Smith-Rawe is leaving I wonder who’s going to inherit the no.10 jersey. My bet is between Saka and Odegard
The move is good for both parties. He needs to play for the good of his career but Arteta is not using him.
Arteta is so focused on results and is not prepared to take risks.
ESR’s move also opens up space for the very coveted Nwaneri. I believe all the youth prospects who went on the tour will better seek loan moves where they are sure to play and develop their careers.
For Nwaneri to stay, he must be guaranteed regular minutes. He has demonstrated enough to merit a spot in the team.
ESR was the one with value and other teams showed interest.
Nketiah has 1 team interested at half the price Arsenal want and Nelson wanted on loan by Leicester City.
ESR is one of the few who can generate interest from other teams and get a fee, so we made the decision.