According to British media "nowarsenal", Arsenal fans' favorite Smith Rowe is leaving the team this summer and wants to play in a Premier League team that can play in the main team.
The talented striker joined Arsenal's youth squad at the age of 10 and has made the Emirates Stadium his home for 14 years. Smith Rowe was born in Croydon, south London, and he should have been a hero for the club alongside Bukayo Saka. But as is often the case with Arsenal's young players, injuries have been holding Smith Rowe's career to new heights.
Back in September 2022, Smith Rowe suffered a groin injury that sidelined him for up to 121 days. Since then, Smith Rowe has had a long journey of physical recovery. Just nine months after his return to the pitch, in October 2023, he suffered another knee injury, followed by a minor abrasion to his ankle, which caused the frontcourt player to miss many games last season.
After Smith Rowe returned from injury, Arsenal's squad rotation was basically in place. Leandro Trossard, Martinelli, Odegaard, they all played well. Mikel Arteta has also struggled to find consistent playing opportunities for Smith Rowe. In this way, Smith Rowe has only started three games in the Premier League in the last two seasons.
Smith Rowe is 23 years old and he doesn't want to stay at Arsenal any longer and wants to join a Premier League team that can play as a regular player. Smith Rowe has no shortage of suitors in the Premier League, after all, he was already able to score 10 goals in a single season in the Premier League at the age of 20. It is reported that Aston Villa, Fulham and Crystal Palace are all looking to sign him in the summer window.
Villa boss Unai Emery, who previously managed Arsenal, made his senior debut under Smith Rowe. Villa will be playing in the Champions League next season and they need young talent like Smith Rowe. Fulham, on the other hand, are on the verge of losing veteran Willian this summer and are hoping to sign Smith Rowe to keep up with their attacking prowess.
For Smith Rowe, Arsenal's psychological price is £30 million. Given Smith Rowe's age, talent and past Premier League performances, as well as his highly sought-after hukou status, the Gunners believe this is a reasonable assessment.