Thanks, Arsenal! Manager delighted with star Arteta regrets selling

Tom Weber

• Updated: 27 Sep 2024 10:45 CDT
• 3 min read

Fulham boss Marco Silva has hailed the impact of Emile Smith Rowe at Craven Cottage.

The midfielder departed boyhood club Arsenal in the summer after spending the past two seasons mostly on the outside looking in. Despite having been one of the Gunners' key players in 2021/22, Smith Rowe failed to win back his place under Mikel Arteta.

Injuries had taken their toll and other players eventually usurped the 24-year-old, so Smith Rowe struggled to even get on the pitch for Arsenal. It was high time for a change and he departed the Emirates in the summer.

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Fulham made him their most expensive acquisition ever as they showed themselves willing to shell out as much as €40 million for the former England hopeful.

While Arsenal and Arteta understood that Smith Rowe wanted to play regularly, they would still have preferred to keep the fan favourite at the club. His impact so far at Fulham illustrated why they were reluctant to let him go.

Silva hails Smith Rowe

The attacking midfielder has netted two goals and recorded an assist in five Premier League games for the Cottagers, becoming one of the club's most important players in the process.

Last month, Arteta admitted that he looks back and regrets having failed to turn Smith Rowe into a regular starter for Arsenal after his injury. "I have a feeling like ‘argh,’ that I have not got the best out of him," the Spaniard conceded.

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However, one man's loss is another man's gain and this hold's true for Smith Rowe. Speaking ahead of this weekend's clash with Nottingham Forest, Fulham boss Marco Silva expressed his delight with Smith Rowe.

"He is a talent and different than what we had in the last few seasons. Emile has everything in that position. He didn’t play enough in the past few years - that is tough. He will get more minutes and there is more to come from him. He is a shy and normal guy. I want him to express himself on the pitch."