Emile Smith Rowe saved Mikel Arteta’s career – but his Arsenal revolution waits for no one

It is possible to make the case that the day when Mikel Arteta’s managerial career was marked by the single most significant event was Boxing Day in the year 2020. Just prior to the start of their play against Chelsea that evening, Arteta’s Arsenal were in 15th place in the Premier League table and were in the midst of a terrible streak of seven league matches without a victory. The project that Arteta was working on, which was still in its early stages, was on the verge of total failure.

During those gloomy days, Arsenal were so terrible that Sam Allardyce, who was the manager of West Bromwich Albion at the time, even referred to them as candidates for relegation. Telegraph Sport has learnt that those who were close to Arteta harboured a deep-seated worry that the Spaniard was on the verge of losing his job, and that they were making concerted efforts to get themselves ready for such a scenario.

Then, however, Emile Smith Rowe appeared out of nowhere, like a ray of sunshine in the midst of the darkness. The player who had graduated from the academy made his first league start of the season in the game against Chelsea on Boxing Day, and he completely changed the way the team played afterwards. Arsenal prevailed by a score of 3-1. All of a sudden, they exuded newfound vitality, bravery, inventiveness, and determination.

Following that, Smith Rowe started each of the subsequent nine league matches, establishing himself as the link between the midfield and the offence that Arsenal had been looking for. The change that has resulted in Arsenal becoming the powerful and title-challenging unit that we see now was effectively started by him and Bukayo Saka, who is also a graduate of the academy.

Smith Rowe, on the other hand, has been left behind due to the extraordinary pace at which that change has occurred. As a result of a number of factors, including injuries, he has not been able to keep up with the blistering tempo that Arteta and Arsenal have established. He only made three starts in the league throughout the course of the previous two seasons, and he did not score any goals.

At the halfway point of the previous season, it had become an unavoidable reality that Smith Rowe, who is now 24 years old, needed to leave the club that he had initially joined when he was only 10 years old. Whether or not he would leave Arsenal was not the question; rather, the question was where he would go and how much Arsenal would get for him.

We are now in possession of the answers: In a move that might potentially be worth £34 million in the long run, Fulham has now acquired his services. After a cursory glance, it seems to be one of those unusual deals that is beneficial to all parties involved: Arsenal is receiving a good deal for an academy product, Fulham is getting an England international, and Smith Rowe is getting the opportunity to play consistently in the Premier League.

On the other hand, this is a difficult contract for Arsenal staff members and supporters to accept on an emotional level. Not only is Smith Rowe a member of their own team, but he is also one of the most significant figures in the team’s reconstruction under Arteta’s leadership. Many supporters of Arsenal will be disappointed to learn that the song “Saka and Emile Smith Rowe,” which was originally performed to the tune of Status Quo’s “Rockin’ All Over the World,” will no longer be performed at the Emirates Stadium.

What caused it to reach this point in time? Being physically fit is probably the most important of all the various aspects that are involved. Smith Rowe underwent surgery in September 2022 to treat a groin issue that had been bothering him for several months with discomfort. It was not until January 2023 that he made his next appearance, at which point Arsenal had established themselves as the league leaders by eight points and had a settled team.

Smith Rowe was just unable to create momentum during those vital months, during which Martin Odegaard established himself as one of Europe’s top playmakers. During those months, Smith Rowe was unable to succeed. A similar impact was brought about by another injury that occurred at the beginning of the previous season. Additionally, the emergence of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz moved him farther down the midfield pecking order.

On the other hand, it is important to point out that Arteta never appeared to be completely persuaded that Smith Rowe would be a long-term starter for his Arsenal club without any significant competition. Even when Smith Rowe was performing at his peak, the manager of Arsenal frequently used a variety of different tones while referring to him in conversations with players like Saka and Odegaard.

In the month of May 2021, for instance, Arteta was given the opportunity to compliment Smith Rowe on his first goal of the season, which he had scored after the team had won their match against West Brom. As a response, he efficiently brought to the player’s attention the significant amount of work that remained to be made.

According to Arteta, “He has been having an incredible season ever since he started playing,” and he said this. Nevertheless, he is scoring his first goal in the Premier League. The requirements for an outstanding season for a No. 10 player at Arsenal are that he must score 15 goals and provide 10 assists. If that is the case, you are practically on par with the best players in Europe and in the league. Despite the fact that he is capable of doing anything, he has not yet done it.
It is believed by certain individuals within the club that Arteta is a manager who has his favourites, and that Smith Rowe has never been truly considered to be one of those favourites. In recent years, Arsenal has acquired players such as Odegaard, Fabio Vieira, Havertz, and Rice, which is further proof that Smith Rowe was not considered to be the primary player in that position.

Even from a tactical standpoint, there have been adjustments that have not been beneficial to Smith Rowe. As a left-sided attacker who slid inside during the 2021-22 season, Arteta had some of his best games. However, by the beginning of the 2022-23 season, Arteta wanted an outright winger to play in that position so that he could more effectively provide width. On no occasion has Smith Rowe been that kind of player.

Since then, he has been confronted with the challenge of competing for a position as a “No 8” in a midfield three, rather than as a “No 10” in a more advanced role. In such a configuration, there are a greater number of defensive needs, and Smith Rowe has not always appeared to be at ease with the position, in comparison to when he played further forward.

Smith Rowe’s departure can be attributed to a confluence of all of these circumstances, as well as Arsenal’s requirement to produce revenue through sales. As a result of his move to Fulham, he will have the opportunity to regain his self-assurance and momentum, as well as to once more exhibit his extraordinary potential. Because of the significant contribution he made to Arsenal’s comeback, there will be a sense of both regret and gratitude around the club as a result of his departure.