Emile Smith Rowe completed his transfer to Fulham and boy he looked sad in one of those Fulham’s announcement photos.
A brilliant 2021-22 season where he played more than 30 games and scored 6 times got him the no. #10 jersey. He was part of the club since he joined in 2010, barely 10 years old. He was the first player to make a professional debut for the club being born in 2000s and the first one to score as well on the same parameters.
A highly regarded Hale End product, Emile shined first in the FIFA U17 world cup campaign for England. Emery gave him a professional contract and he started some games in Europa League and EFL Cup before being sent on loans to RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town. He returned back for the 2020-21 season, signed a renewed contract of 5 years at the end of the season and had a brilliant 2021-22 season with us.
However, the groin injury bothered him throughout his time at Arsenal. He could have gone on to become one of the starters and that no. 10 position looked his by every criteria, but then he had to go for a surgery and rehab. By the time he returned fit, the club had moved on under the leadership of Odegaard and it was a lot difficult for him to get back into the playing XI.
I always wanted him to get back into the team, wanted him to compete with Odegaard but it didn’t happen. So, the club sat with the player, kept theirs and ours emotions aside and decided that it was in the best of interest for both party to sell him. Fulham came with the bag full of money and we are going to miss him.
He penned down a very emotional message on Instagram. Here’s what he said
“To the Arsenal family, I wasn’t sure where to start with this as it is the hardest message to write to you all.
I was ten years old when I first signed for this club, just a kid with no idea that I would go on to make over 100 appearances and wear the iconic no.10 for Arsenal.
I’ve experienced so much here, met and played with the best and made so many memories that it’s hard to pick out the best moments.
There’s too many people to thank but I want to say thank you to all my teammates over the years, every staff member that’s helped me along the way and especially to you fans for making Arsenal *Home* to me for so long ❤️
I’m ready to take on a new challenge now, I feel hungrier than ever and I have to give myself the opportunity to take the next step.
So thank you again to the Arsenal family, I’ll always appreciate you all.
ESR”
And if that wasn’t emotional enough, Bukayo – his old mate bid farewell to him.
Bukayo Saka wrote on Instagram – “From Hale End to the Emirates and all the memories on our journey. It’s been an absolute pleasure. Go and shine bro!”
Have I forgotten your goal and assist for the first two goals against Tottenham in that home derby? Or that tiki-taka football with Saka and Lacazette against Bournemouth when we were on our lowest under Mikel and which changed the course of years to come? Or, your Wenger’s famous post along side Saka?
Hell NO.
—
We, the london is red team, wishes you a very successful future and we hope you get to become what your dreamt of at Arsenal. Sometimes, there’s no happy endings.
From the Mirror who think maybe a wide forward now.
“Another day and still no progress in Arsenal’s hunt for a new centre forward as Mikel Arteta continues his search for the missing piece in his title challenging puzzle.
While talk of an approach for Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez remains, Newcastle’s reluctance to do business over Alexander Isak may force a rethink that could see the Spaniard target a wide forward instead.”
It does, however, beg the question of just how much faith does El B have in Havertz?
About as much as us me thinks.
Is Stan putting his foot down? Gyokeres is now too expensive for AFC yet AFC cannot sell Eddie because he is ? too expensive. With less than two weeks to go before the start of the season perhaps El B’s intention all along is Havertz at No.9 and Jesus his back up. He will pinch a sentence from Wenger – we could not find a striker better than what we already have.
my beloved pooch passed in my arms late last evening…needless to say I’m absolutely fucking gutted
RVL
Yes, that is sad. I can understand from a man with passion.
TRVL
Sorry to hear about your dog. They are not called man’s best friend for nothing. Since my daughter got a flat nose Persian I’ve started to take an interest in cats. So photogenic with their expressions. Far more intelligent that I gave them credit for.
The movie ‘Old Yellow’ had me howling in the cinema at about 8 I think. Then Lassie immortalized the Collie and I had great affection for our canine species.
Give your good old friend a good send off, as I guess the dog was a part of the furniture with your family.
Then bake away and remember the good times………
Hi Vieira
Very sorry to hear that. I absolutely love dogs and their company. They are a massive part of our lives when we let them in and they give us so much joy and laughs. Let yourself grieve along with your family.
Our 16 year old labrador died earlier this year. I still feel pain but it does ease day-by-day.
Look after yourself mate.
Tony,
“was dark mode not liked?” – this feature is permanent, there is a toggle button at the top if you are using phone and at the top right corner on desktops.
TRVL
Sorry to hear about your loss. Take care.
All of your kind words are genuinely appreciated…I’ve had my fairshare of glorious pets throughout my life, both cats and dogs, this one hurts just a little bit more as she was the “family” pet, who I gifted to my son and daughter at Xmas when they were 11 and 7 respectively…never have I seen two more happy children in the entirety of my life, so it’s terribly crushing to see this chapter come to an end
Dogs and cats both have personalities that brings them closer to us. My daughter is petrified of dogs having come face to face with an off lead alsatian when she was two. Now in her early forties she is still very wary.
My son has two spaniels that are bonkers. The eldest is a bitch and a real princess the other is a male rescue and was also runt of the litter. Now 9 months away from his previous owners he is now a new dog.
We are fortunate to have a large garden and about half an acre is walled. The dogs love it. Sadly dogs lives are not too lengthy.