There has been something of a disconnect between what Arsenal say and what Arsenal do when it comes to Emile Smith Rowe.
The club have made it clear on several occasions now that they do not want him to leave. Aston Villa, West Ham and Chelsea came in last summer, but were given short shrift. West Ham tried to get the 23-year-old again in January, but the deal was a non-starter.
And yet, for all their rebuffing of interest from Premier League teams, Arsenal have barely used Smith Rowe. He started just four games in all competitions last season – a number that would have been unthinkable after he finished the 2021/22 season as the club’s top scorer. Of course, injuries have played a part in that, but for a large part of last season the Hale Ender was fit and pain free after having surgery on a hip injury that had plagued him since the age of 17.
Now Arsenal find themselves in a familiar position. Smith Rowe is once again attracting interest, but their stance, once again, is that they would prefer to keep him.
Crystal Palace have the England international among a list of targets they are looking at as a potential replacement for Michael Olise. A Croydon local would certainly be a popular signing at Selhurst Park, particularly if Eberechi Eze leaves amid interest from Tottenham.
