Emile Smith Rowe joined Fulham from Arsenal in the summer(Image: Getty Images)

Emile Smith Rowe shows true colours with Arsenal comment as buy-back clause explained

Emile Smith Rowe quit Arsenal after 14 years in the summer to make the switch to Fulham, and he has started the campaign in decent form

17 Oct 2024, 14:05 by Kieran King · football.london

Emile Smith Rowe has revealed there is "no bad feelings" over his Arsenal exit and admitted he is still in contact with a couple of his former teammates. The 24-year-old left the Emirates in the summer to join Fulham in a deal that could rise to around £34million.

Smith Rowe, who joined the Hale End academy in 2010, made his competitive Arsenal debut in the Europa League in September 2018 and scored his first goal a month later against Qarabag. He spent the second half of that season on loan at RB Leizpig, before returning to the Gunners in the summer.

Having enjoyed another spell out on loan, this time at Huddersfield in the Championship, Smith Rowe was handed a run in the Arsenal side under Mikel Arteta. With 11 goals in 37 appearances in the 2021/22 season, Smith Rowe had cemented himself as one of their most important players.

However, Smith Rowe started to struggle with injuries and found himself in and out of the side. Last season, Smith Rowe was restricted to just 19 appearances across all competitions, which helped force his hand and secure a move elsewhere to gain regular first-team game time, with Fulham his next destination.

Reflecting on his time at Arsenal, Smith Rowe told The Telegraph: "Coming through the academy all you want to do is just play for your club and when you are not getting the opportunities there is only so much you can take. Like I said there is no bad feelings or anything. I am still supporting them, I still talk to a few of the boys. It's all love."

Since moving to Craven Cottage, Smith Rowe has been in excellent form. He has scored twice and grabbed one assist in seven matches this season and has settled into life at the Whites.

There has been some talk over whether Arsenal have a buyback clause in Smith Rowe's contract given how well he is performing in west London, but football.london understands there is not that option in the deal.

The Gunners can gain some success from Smith Rowe in the future, however, after they inserted a 10 per cent clause in his contract. Should Smith Rowe get to the levels that he promised in the Hale End academy then this could come back to bite Arsenal, but for now they can be happy in the success of a former player with the knowledge that a big move in years to come would land them a significant sum as compensation.

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