Arsenal: Huge Emile Smith Rowe new contract and shirt number hint

For all the plethora of issues plaguing Arsenal that contributed to the worst season in most supporters’ lives last term, the club can still lay claim to having some talented young individuals who others sides are jealous of. Just like Emile Smith Rowe.

Bukayo Saka was the star boy of 2020/21, form he carried over into England’s European Championship campaign that ended in heartbreak in a penalty shootout with Italy. Not far behind him was Smith Rowe, who some supporters felt may even have been more deserving of the player of the year gong.

Not here to be involved in competitions between the best academy stars at the club, Arsenal are just happy to have the 20-year-old on the books.

This was reflected in the response to Aston Villa’s meek efforts to bring Smith Rowe to the midlands. Lodging no less than two bids – a third was expected and may have arrived unbeknownst – their ambition was clear, even if it wasn’t reflected in the size of the offers.

Arsenal: Huge Emile Smith Rowe new contract and shirt number hint as pre-season gets underway amid Aston Villa transfer bids

£25m for someone with roughly six months of Premier League football to their name is on paper quite impressive, but Smith Rowe isn’t just someone. Villa pushed through with another offer worth £5m more, a somewhat hilarious valuation having been told he is not for sale and will likely cost at least triple that.

James Benge has since added that Arsenal have been ‘growing in confidence’ over a new deal for the Hale Ender, one due to be five years long.

He was never going to leave. Never. There was some trepidation surrounding why Villa kept persisting, which hinted at Arsenal leaving some margin for negotiation, but there was never anything to fear. Smith Rowe is Arsenal through and through and it would be an absurd obliteration of faith were the club to green light that move.

Beyond that, it looks like a new shirt number is in order.

Eagle-eyed supporters have noticed something from the range of training photos uploaded by Arsenal on their socials channels. While most players have featured in a few snaps here and there, including Smith Rowe, none of the pictures of the playmaker show his shirt number. Not one.

Each picture of the ‘Croydon De Bruyne’ is a side profile or any image where his squad number is hidden. In fact, academy goalkeeper James Hillson has even been spotted donning the No. 32, adding to the likelihood.

Folarin Balogun is now No. 26 and even if it is pre-season, the players get their squad numbers they’ll wear for the coming season. Thomas Partey has been rocking his No. 5. A new kit is also in order.

It only heightens expectation of an imminent new contract but also begs the question: No.8 or No. 10?

We’ll see what we wears against Hibernian, although they might just return him to the No. 32 for the time being.