Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, has indicated that Emile Smith Rowe might be headed for an exit from the club in the upcoming January transfer window.
Despite an impressive first season in 2021-22, during which Smith Rowe scored 10 Premier League goals in 33 appearances, his role at Arsenal has waned due to injuries and the emergence of Gabriel Martinelli.
In the 2023-24 season, he has seen limited action, with just 157 minutes on the field and a solitary start in an EFL Cup third-round victory over Brentford.
Arsenal had previously rebuffed transfer inquiries for Smith Rowe, most notably from Aston Villa in the summer of 2022.
Given his lack of playing time and dwindling prospects for first-team football, Arteta is now willing to entertain offers for the 23-year-old English playmaker in January. While Smith Rowe’s contract with Arsenal has three years remaining, the possibility of his departure is becoming increasingly likely.
Aston Villa, a club that had previously shown interest in Smith Rowe, may rekindle their pursuit in 2024. Newcastle United is also closely monitoring the situation. Smith Rowe’s international career has suffered due to his club struggles, as he has recently represented the England Under-21 team instead of the senior squad.
Although he played a role in England’s Under-21 Euros victory over the summer, he has not made a senior England appearance since March 2022 in a friendly against Ivory Coast.
With Euro 2024 on the horizon, Smith Rowe is likely to seek a move away from Arsenal to bolster his chances of catching the eye of Gareth Southgate, the England national team manager.
This potential transfer could mark the end of his 14-year association with Arsenal, having joined their academy at the age of 10 and making his debut at 18 in a Europa League match against Vorskla Poltava in 2018.
During his time with the club, he has contributed 18 goals and 11 assists in 103 games, including loan spells at RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town before solidifying his place in the first team.
