Arsenal fan favourite admits he left to 'be happy again'

Tom Weber

• Updated: 17 Oct 2024 14:49 BST
• 3 min read

Emile Smith Rowe has admitted that he had to leave Arsenal to find happiness again.

The attacking midfielder departed his boyhood club in the summer transfer window after two seasons mostly spent on the outside looking in. Despite having been a key player in 2021/22, Smith Rowe could not win back his place in Mikel Arteta's side after his return from injury.

At 24, the former England international simply had to be playing regularly and he just was not getting the chance to do that at the Emirates anymore. So, despite Arsenal and Arteta preferring to keep him, they agreed to sell him to Fulham in a club-record €40 million deal.

READ MORE: 'Arsenal return would be fantastic' admits ex-Gunners star

Arteta later admitted that he regrets not having managed to get the best out of the fan favourite, who still evidently has bags of potential. Smith Rowe has become one of Fulham's key players, contributing with two goals and an assist in seven games so far.

Smith Rowe on 'difficult' Arsenal exit

Speaking to The Telegraph, Smith Rowe has now opened about the 'difficult' decision to leave Arsenal in a bid to find happiness again. “I can’t remember an actual, exact moment [when I knew I had to leave],” he said.

“But for the last two seasons, I haven’t played as much as I wanted to and it was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to be happy again. I wanted to be playing. Sometimes you have to think of the best for yourself.

READ MORE: Arsenal target 'Kai Havertz 2.0'

"I always want to put my club first but at the same time, I have to make myself happy. It was probably the toughest decision I’ve had to make. But I spoke to my family and we decided it was the best thing for me.

"Ups and downs with injuries and then getting back fit and then not getting the opportunities that I obviously wanted. But at the same time Arsenal were pushing to win the league. So I had to wait and be patient. It was really tough.

“Coming through the academy all you want to do is just play for your club and when you are not getting the opportunities there is only so much you can take. Like I said there is no bad feelings or anything. I am still supporting them, I still talk to a few of the boys. It’s all love.”