4 players that could replace Emile Smith Rowe as Arsenal's number 10

Emile Smith Rowe was just the latest of a long list of stars to don the illustrious number 10 shirt at Arsenal.

From the greats of yesteryear like Charlie George to the contemporary superstars of Dennis Bergkamp, Robin van Persie, and Mesut Ozil, this is a shirt that isn't handed out to merely anyone.

Smith Rowe earned the privilege having almost single-handedly ignited the Mikel Arteta project at the end of 2020. The free-spirited Englishman was rewarded with a bumper contract extension and the #10 shirt the following summer, with Smith Rowe enjoying the brightest campaign of his career in 2021/22 while operating as the club's creative talisman.

Injuries and the speed at which Arteta's project evolved eventually led to ESR's demise in north London, and a sombre farewell is being bid this summer. The supreme ball carrier is on his way to Fulham, leaving not only the sentiment of 'what if..?', but the #10 shirt also.

Here are four candidates to succeed Smith Rowe as Arsenal's number 10 for the 2024/25 campaign - if the club opts against vacating the lucrative shirt.

1. Fabio Vieira

Smith Rowe's reduced prominence in north London follows a well-established trend of the archetypal number 10 profile fading from mainstream consciousness.

Arsenal, though, do have a couple of bona fide playmakers that fit the #10 bill. One of those is Fabio Vieira, who's hoping to make a considerable jump in his third year at the club.

The Portuguese playmaker has notable creative instincts and has the potential to be a final third machine should he play a bigger role next season. Smith Rowe's exit does open the door for Vieira, although he must convince Arteta pretty soon.

Perhaps the increased responsibility of boasting Arsenal's #10 shirt would aid the young creator. Gabriel Martinelli thrived in 2022/23 having been named the club's new #11, and the Gunners could aim to inspire Vieira in a similar vein.

Currently donning the #21 shirt, Vieira has previously worn #10 at various youth levels for Porto and Portugal.

2. Martin Odegaard

Odegaard arrived at Arsenal as a stylish playmaker with plenty to prove. He's since evolved into one of the continent's best; a do-it-all midfielder that embodies the shirt number he currenty dons.

His role is ever-changing at the Emirates, and we saw him take up a deeper role in possession last season in a bid to aid Arsenal's progression upfield. Odegaard starred in the function the likes of Bernardo Silva has flourished in for Pep Guardiola up in Manchester. His maturation has been crucial to the Gunners' success over the past two years, and it just seems that we're all synonymous with 'Odegaard #8'.

While his majestic creative profile means he certainly has the minerals to succeed Smith Rowe, it'd be a surprise to see the skipper make the change.

3. Ethan Nwaneri

I'm not going to get carried away, but Nwaneri looks half-decent, doesn't he?

A bright start to the summer means the 17-year-old is trending towards playing a role for Arteta's team next season. His primary focus will likely remain with the youth teams in north London, but Nwaneri will almost certainly earn an exponential increase in first team minutes, especially in the cup competitions.

Thus, Arsenal will not be making the teenager their new number 10 this summer. However, the strong and technically impressive Nwaneri has all the makings of a future wearer of the shirt should he continue on his current trajectory.

4. New arrival?

As it stands, it appears unlikely for Arsenal to sign someone worthy of taking the #10.

There are currently few links to a new addition to the frontline, with the club next targeting midfield as their priority position to bolster.

Mikel Merino is the trending name in rumour mills, but the Spaniard, for all his box-crashing abilities, is not going to take on the #10 shirt was he to join the club. A box-to-box midfielder who's also adept in a deeper position, Merino wore #6 for Spain at Euro 2024 and has donned #8 at club level since 2018/19 when he joined Real Sociedad.

Eberechi Eze is the sort of player boasting the swagger of an Arsenal #10, but there's no suggestion Arsenal will make a move for the Crystal Palace star. Leroy Sane also fits the bill, but securing a deal with Bayern Munich seems unlikely.

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