Best 5 moments for Emile Smith Rowe in an Arsenal shirt

This is going to hurt.

Following the exits of some fringe players, Arsenal are now selling the family silver as Hale End graduate (and birthday boy), Emile Smith Rowe, closes in on a big-money move to Fulham.

His switch will mark the sad, but unsurprising end of a Gunners career that never really lived up to its initial promise, with several injuries and stiff first-team competition both greatly limiting his game time.

Still, there have been bright spots along the way and fans will cherish them dearly as they watch one of their own spread his wings elsewhere – perhaps to enjoy the career that his talent so clearly deserves.

Best 5 moments for Emile Smith Rowe in an Arsenal shirt

It did not last nearly long enough, but here are five of the best moments from Smith Rowe’s time at Arsenal.

1. That Chelsea breakthrough (December 2020)

One memorable appearance, coming in a season that Arsenal would rather otherwise forget.

Form heading into this match could not have been much worse: the club had sunk to 15th in the Premier League table, stood just four points off the relegation zone, and had just suffered a dismal 2-1 loss away at Everton – the fifth defeat in seven games.  

Mikel Arteta was desperate for a quick fix and, thus, brought in Smith Rowe for only his third ever league outing (more than a year after his last). The result? Immediate dividends.

Flanked by Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, ‘the Smith’ produced a top display that injected new dynamism into the attack along with a refreshing, youthful exuberance which earned Arsenal a much-needed win.

It felt like the start of something special.

2. Breaks the FA Cup deadlock (January 2021)

Arsenal spent much of 2020/21 lurching from one crisis to another and almost plunged into their latest in the FA Cup third round, until Smith Rowe intervened.

On this occasion, the holders found themselves on the ropes as several Newcastle chances went abegging (thank you, Andy Carroll!) and, in need of inspiration, Arteta introduced ESR from the bench.

Our ‘Croydon de Bruyne’ duly delivered in extra-time. Latching onto a header from Alexandre Lacazette, he broke into the Magpies’ box and guided a low effort in off the far post to give us a precious 1-0 lead, one that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would double just three minutes from the end.

It ultimately counted for little as Arsenal were eliminated in the next round, but he still gave us a fleeting sense of happiness when it was needed most.

3. Sparkling Christmas form (2021/22)

His first Yuletide offering had dragged Arsenal (a small bit) from the drop; his second ignited hopes of a potential Champions League return.

Smith Rowe was an integral first-team player by this point. Building on the initial breakthrough, he had featured in all bar two league games of 2021/22 up until Christmas and enjoyed a somewhat prolific spell, registering five goal contributions in the preceding six-match run.

Yet that only whet the appetite as he followed up with a brilliant, breakaway strike versus West Ham and another emphatic finish at Leeds, while a back-post tap-in saw him wrap up our five-goal demolition of Norwich on Boxing Day.

Although most knew of his quality before then, ESR had now really become the gift that kept on giving.

4. NLD (North London Delight)

Derbies are a defining part of any campaign and, in September 2021, Smith Rowe etched his (long) name into NLD folklore.

The Hale End man has often acted as Arteta’s rescuer and he fulfilled a similar role here; assuming the midfield mantle as Arsenal tried to keep the recovery going after a dreadful start to the year (three consecutive defeats, if anyone needs reminding…).

Two wins against Norwich (again) and Burnley had already gotten us back on track before the August title winners, Sp*rs, arrived at Emirates Stadium and were duly dispatched 3-1.

And it was Smith Rowe who opened the scoring that day just 12 minutes in, meeting a fine cutback from Saka – thanks to some woeful defending – to steer a controlled shot past the stranded Hugo Lloris.   

The raw, celebratory emotion afterwards showed just how much that goal meant to him, and it only served to strengthen his relationship with the adoring fans.

A truly wholesome moment.

5. Signing the long-term contract (July 2021)

And so an off-field moment to finish, when Smith Rowe committed five more years to his boyhood club.

Fresh terms alone were just reward for his fine 2020 campaign but, such was the high regard in which Arsenal held him, he received the legendary no. 10 shirt as an added bonus.

No more than a nice gesture from the club, of course, yet one that fuelled hope of a bright future in red and white.

It also came at a time when other clubs (notably Aston Villa) were pushing hard for his services, so it gave a major boost to the fledgling Arteta process and ended any speculation over what would have been a difficult, emotional summer exit.

But that ‘departing’ hour has now arrived and feels no less difficult today than its grim prospect did back then, leaving us with a tinge of regret that we did not, and will not, see him realise his brilliant best in an Arsenal jersey.  

Best of luck, Emile, you are going to smash it.

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