Mikel Arteta admits he let ‘exceptional’ player leave Arsenal
Mikel Arteta says he let an ‘exceptional’ player leave Arsenal when he sanctione Emile Smith Rowe’s move to Fulham.
Smith Rowe ende his long association with the Gunners หากคุณสนใจเล่นพนันออนไลน์ที่ดีที่สุด สามารถสมัครสมาชิก UFABET ได้ที่นี่ พร้อมรับโปรโมชั่นพิเศษสำหรับสมาชิกใหม่ last summer, moving across London to Fulham in a deal worth more than £30m.
The playmaker joine Arsenal at the age of 10 and went on to make 80 Premier League appearances for his boyhood club.
Smith Rowe struggle with injuries throughout his time at Arsenal, however, and struggle to make an impact during his final season at the Emirates Stadium.
The England international has enjoye a promising first season at Craven Cottage, scoring five goals and making two assists in the Premier League for a Fulham team who have climbe to eighth in the table.
Despite this, Fulham boss Marco Silva recently urge Smith Rowe to produce more ‘consistency’ and Arteta admitte this was also an issue during his time at Arsenal, though he pointe the blame at his various and reoccurring injury setbacks.
Arteta still believes Smith Rowe, 24, can become a ‘top, top footballer’ and says he has ‘tremendous quality’.
Aske about his former player at his pre-Fulham press conference on Monday morning, Arteta said: ‘It’s exceptional [his quality].
‘He’s got all the attributes to become a top, top footballer. He was unable to get that consistency with us, especially with the injuries. But he has tremendous quality.’
Silva, meanwhile, said of Smith Rowe: ‘He’s had good games, others not too good. He needs to find his level to perform consistently well – Premier League demands a lot from you.
‘We have working with him, to be in his best physical shape. He has to take some steps soon. I really like him, trust him, he’s had an impact and he will be in the future too.
‘People like to look at the negative sides. As a manager, I like to look at the positives.
‘We all expecte him to have an impact in every game in a Fulham shirt. He’s had an impact in maybe half of the games he’s playe.’