November 21, 2024

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I understand why Mikel Arteta admitted rare £34m error after watching ‘scintillating’ Fulham star vs Brentford

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Emile Smith-Rowe is in fine form for Fulham after Arsenal took the big decision to let him leave this summer.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made a rare admission of an error this summer as the club flogged academy product Emile Smith-Rowe to London rivals Fulham for £34 million. As the Cottagers beat Brentford in dramatic style on Monday night, it became clear that the Spaniard’s guilt isn’t without reason.

The midfielder spent 14 years working his way through the ranks in North London before the move to Craven Cottage in search of more game time. He’s already got that under Marco Silva, his 716 Premier League minutes so far, already more than his last two seasons combined.

When leaving the Emirates Stadium this summer, Smith-Rowe was sent with kind parting words from Arteta, who admitted he may have failed the player. The Gunners boss said: “When I had the talk with Emile, I really felt it.

“First of all because I have huge gratitude because he came into the team at a tough moment. I think he was the player that made our supporters and the team click, in a way. I don’t know how to explain it but that was my feeling. Something changed when he came in the team. He created a different energy straight away.

“And I have a feeling like ‘argh’, that I have not got the best out of him. Obviously a lot of things happened in that time. From my side, it was really sad because I know how those boys feel when they are in that building, how hard everyone works to get them close to the first team, so I feel a huge responsibility to give them the chance.”

With two goals and two assists in the league so far for Fulham, Smith-Rowe is taking his chances. However, in a purring 82 minutes against Brentford, it was clear that he offers so much more than that tally.

From the off, the attacking midfielder thrilled Craven Cottage. There was a tangible excitement by the River Thames when the ball fell at his feet with a regular roar when he made driving runs forward.

Smith-Rowe is playing with such confidence too. In one early moment, he turned around to silence defender Calvin Bassey’s claims that his positioning was wrong, staying put and darting through the Bees’ defence a moment later to tee up Raul Jimenez, who should have scored.

It’s impressive how quickly Smith-Rowe has developed a rapport with his teammates. The one and two-touch moves with Antonee Robinson and former Arsenal teammate Reiss Nelson were nothing short of scintillating at times.

There’s something very akin to Martin Odegaard in the midfielder’s presence for Fulham too. The Arsenal captain sets the pace for the Gunners, both on the ball and off it. At one moment against Brentford, Smith-Rowe clattered into a Brentford man to regain possession after conceding, geeing up his teammates and the stadium.

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