'I decided I had to quit Arsenal after family meeting - I had to be happy again’

Emile Smith Rowe left Arsenal for Fulham in the summer after growing unhappy at his lack of game time in the final two years of his 14-year stay with the Gunners

Emile Smith Rowe has opened up about his decision to leave Arsenal for Fulham - admitting it was the "toughest decision I've had to make".

The 24-year-old midfielder, who joined the Gunners in 2010 and became a key player under Mikel Arteta during the 2020/21 season, revealed he finally feels happy again after making the move to west London.

Despite enjoying the best season of his career with 10 Premier League goals in 33 games a year later, injuries and intense competition limited his game time in the following years.

He played just 25 league games combined in his last two seasons at the Emirates before deciding to leave his childhood club for Fulham in a deal that could be worth up to £34million.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Smith Rowe said: "For the last two seasons I haven't played as much as I wanted to and it was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to be happy again, I wanted to be playing, reports Football London.

"Sometimes you have to think of the best for yourself. I always want to put my club first but, at the same time, I have to make myself happy. It was probably the toughest decision I've had to make (to leave). But I spoke to my family and we decided it was the best thing for me."

Smith Rowe has hit the ground running at Craven Cottage, netting two goals in seven appearances with his new club sitting at an impressive eighth place in the Premier League table.

The young star is evidently buzzing months after his move, adding: "Yeah, I can't really speak highly enough of everything around me: the club, all the staff. I am really happy. There's a massive smile on my face."

Smith Rowe's eagerness to lace up for the Cottagers was joined by an allure towards Fulham's blueprint laid out by boss Marco Silva, who impressed him with discussions about the freedom he'd be afforded on the pitch.

Reflecting on his decision, Smith Rowe said: "Just the project that the manager (Marco Silva) spoke to me about, I spoke to him in the summer and we had a really good conversation about the opportunities I would get, where I would be playing and the freedom to express myself.

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Get the new Arsenal shirt for 2024/2025

The new Arsenal shirt for next season is now on sale
Ranging from £55-£110

The new shirt has returned the Gunners to their roots placing a stripped-down, elegant-looking canon right over the heart of the new shirt. Shirt manufacturers Adidas have produced a "clean and minimal" and the design "embraces modernity, while honouring Arsenal’s rich heritage.

Adidas
Buy it now

"That really sucked me into the project, it was mainly that and knowing there were some players here already that I knew would help me settle in."

Fulham, who suffered a close 3-2 defeat against Manchester City before the international break, are gearing up for their next fixture on Saturday (October 19), where they hope to topple an impressive-looking Aston Villa.

_Join our new WhatsApp community __and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our _Privacy Notice.