Emile Smith Rowe might no longer be an Arsenal player but he still very much feels like one. Despite him moving to Fulham, there is nothing Gunners fans would love more than seeing the talented Englishman succeed for the Cottagers.
It’s a shame and one of the biggest regrets in recent seasons that Smith Rowe could not establish himself in the Arsenal first team. The ex-Gunners #10 made an excellent start to life under Mikel Arteta before an unfortunate injury kept him out for an entire season.
The Arsenal players commenting on Emile Smith Rowe’s Instagram post after he scored his first Premier League goal for Fulham yesterday.
Things you love to see! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ydOYGzrV53
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) August 25, 2024
When Smith Rowe returned, Arsenal were in a different stature. The Gunners had become one of the best teams in the league under Arteta with Martin Odegaard making the CAM position his own leaving no way back for ESR.
Loved and adored by the Emirates faithful, there was hope against hope that the 24-year-old could somehow find a spot in Arteta’s team last season but the young Englishman hardly got any minutes and it became clear that he needed to move.
Fulham came calling this summer and made ESR their most expensive signing so far. Marco Silva has placed immense trust in the ex-Arsenal playmaker, giving him the #10 role in his team and already making him a starter in his team.
Emile Smith Rowe & room for improvement?
If there is one thing distinct about ESR’s first two games with the Cottagers, it is that he hasn’t outlasted 60 minutes, being replaced in both games. That said, the 24-year-old scored his first game for the club last weekend against Leicester and would be hoping to add more in the coming games.
Speaking about him, Marco Silva admitted that it’s always a good feeling for a player to get off the mark for their new club but admitted that there was still room for improvement for the 24-year-old on the physical side of the game. Here is what the ex-Everton coach had to say
“It’s always important (to get first goal) when you sign a talent like him, it’s important to have the impact. We signed him not only just for now but for a long time, it was important for him even though he has experience. Last season he didn’t play football, I think it was his first goal in the Premier League in two years as well. He settled in the pre-season, it was important to get a little bit more confidence and he scored a good finish. When we sign a player for that position we need them to be decisive, he got the conclusion to finish in the right way. He’s far from his best from a physical point of view, he’s going to improve, he’ll adapt more, it was nice to see him be decisive.”
For the sheer potential that ESR has, he should become one of the best-attacking midfielders in the Premier League. If he can remain fit and continue to develop on the pitch with regular game time, it should be a matter of time before he hits those heights.
Fulham can be a great stepping stone for the English youngster to hone his game. Marco Silva is an intelligent manager who plays a brand of football that will suit ESR. If he can continue in the same way that he has started, the sky is the limit for him.
As an Arsenal fan, there is a small pinch to see ESR play in any other jersey other than the Red and White of the Gunners. However, if the 24-year-old can hone his game and become one of the best in the league in his position, he could be in line for a homecoming sometime down the line.
45′ Emile Smith Rowe is subbed on
52′ Emile Smith Rowe scores his first Fulham goalImpact. 👊 pic.twitter.com/a9G3twBwMP
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 6, 2024
Let’s not count our chickens before they hatch though. ESR deserves all the time and space that he needs to become the player that we all know he can become. What happens in the future is a question for the future and it’s time to kick the can down the road for the time being.
