It took Arsenal one year to find their new Emile Smith Rowe

Arsenal hadn't replaced that feeling in the fanbase since Emile Smith Rowe left the club. The Hale End graduate was famous for loving Arsenal. He gave academy players a reason to believe, and growing up an Arsenal fan, went on to be one of the best midfielders in his breakthrough season.

After that season, though, Emile Smith Rowe wasn't quite the same. Injury after injury left the Englishman longing for more.

After returning from a lengthy injury spell, Emile Smith Rowe tried his hardest to break into the Arsenal first team, into the spot which was once his. Mikel Arteta didn't see the vision, though, and ultimately, ESR was sent packing to fellow London club Fulham.

All in all, ESR's move has been a success. He's taken on life at Craven Cottage well, and he even scored against Man United recently (which is always nice for Arsenal fans to watch).

However, there remained that nagging feeling at the back of Arsenal fans' minds: When is Smith Rowe going to be replaced?

Arsenal has finally found their new Emile Smith Rowe

In Eberechi Eze, Arsenal fans have their new Emile Smith Rowe. I know Eze's route to playing for Arsenal is a little unorthodox, and he didn't technically come through the academy like Emile Smith Rowe did, but he brings with him that same admiration to represent the club he loves.

Like Smith Rowe, Eze is a creative player. He can dribble with the ball at ease, and when the ball's superglued to his feet, fans get off their feet and expect something to happen.

In Smith Rowe's final few years, he was lacking that hair-raising, seat-standing, adrenaline-inducing aura. Now, that feeling's being replaced.

And look, Eze might have come through the Arsenal academy if he had his way. He even recalls stories of crying upon hearing that his youth trial at the Gunners didn't work out.

Eze was turned away from Arsenal much younger than Emile Smith Rowe was. Through no fault of ESR, he was turned away as an adult. In hindsight, Arsenal probably wish they never made the decision to turn away Eze, but they rectified this mistake.

Lo and behold, Eze was sent packing, but the desire to play for Arsenal never left. If there was ever any concern that Eze might have been swayed by Tottenham, then that was squashed by a mixture of common sense and Eze telling Ian Wright, who also came from Crystal Palace, he 'obviously' wanted Arsenal.

In the announcement video, the song "Let It All Work Out" by Lil Wayne was playing, which is a pretty telling part of Eze's story. He's always trusted that somehow, it would all work out, and he would end up at Arsenal. That crying child who only wanted one thing got it in the end.

So, it may have taken one year for Arsenal to do it, but they've finally found their new Emile Smith Rowe. Eze will feel a personal desire to make it at Arsenal to live out not only his own dream, but also to complete what Emile Smith Rowe started.

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