Emile Smith Rowe becomes Arsenal’s new number 10 with new five-year contract

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From Hale End to Arsenal’s new number 10, Emile Smith Rowe has put pen to paper on a new five-year contract for the Gunners ahead of the new 2021/22 season.

Arsenal’s transfer windows in recent years have been full of ups and downs, usually with a lot more downs than ups, however, the news that Smith Rowe has signed his new long-awaited contract extension is most certainly one of the best pieces of business that Arsenal will complete during this summer window.

The newly nicknamed ‘Croydon De Bruyne’ grew up in North London and has been an Arsenal man since he joined the illustrious academy in 2010, with the attacking midfielder playing for the Gunners ever since. Smith Rowe’s meteoric 11-year rise to the top level culminated in a breakthrough season last year as he became almost irreplaceable in Mikel Arteta’s starting 11.

After one of Arsenal’s worst league starts in recent decades, Mikel Arteta turned to Smith Rowe to create for the Gunners in the number 10 role, a huge opportunity for the 20-year-old at the time which he grabbed with both hands.

The youngster put in performance after performance in midfield, including inspiring games in the North London Derby as well as two wins against Chelsea in which he scored the only goal to secure Arsenal’s first victory at Stamford Bridge in nearly 10 years.

Arsenal have certainly had some memorable number 10’s over the years including the invincible Dennis Bergkamp, Jack Wilshere and most recently the magical Mesut Ozil. The number 10 shirt is certainly a huge shirt to live up to for Emile Smith Rowe, however, the Englishman appears to have relished the opportunity and believes that he could become a ‘one club man’ in North London.

“Everyone knows that No 10 is a big shirt and it is definitely a big position as well. So I’m buzzing to be honest, I can’t wait to get on the pitch,

“It’s really special – I can’t explain the feeling when I found out. I’ve not really got the words to explain it right now! But yeah, I’m really happy.

“The legends that have played here and have worn the shirt… it’s a bit too much right now but I’m sure I will calm down after a while!”

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also spoke out to the press just after Smith Rowe signed his contract, and was full of continued praise for his starlet:

“He asked for [the No 10 shirt], so that shows you the ambition and desire. I prefer players who ask for more than maybe they can take but if they believe they can do it, don’t put a limit on it. When he asked me and asked the club that he would like to get that [number], okay, let’s go.”

Smith Rowe joins fellow youngsters Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Folarin Balogun in signing new extensions for the Gunners ahead of the 2021/22 season, with Arteta making a clear statement that he is satisfied with his young core of Arsenal players being the key to success in a huge season ahead.

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