Arteta is set to visit Craven Cottage with his Premier League title challenging side, Arsenal. in their bid to close the gap on the runaway league leaders, Liverpool.
Fulham will host Arsenal without Reiss Nelson that is set to be ineligible via the Premier League rules, but one player that’s expected to be on the spotlight is their attacking midfielder, Emile Smith Rowe.
The young midfielder made 115 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 18 goals and donned the coveted No. 10 jersey but with the star failing to nail a first team berth after his long-awaited return from injury, his career stagnated at the club. Last summer saw the likes of Fulham and Crystal Palace go into a bidding war for his services, and after a 14-year association with Arsenal, Smith Rowe finally completed his club-record move to Craven Cottage, for a reported £34 million.
For a player that clear fell out of favor with Mikel Arteta and featured sparingly in recent campaigns, this is fantastic piece of business. This move to Fulham offers him a chance to get his career on track and harness that potential we always knew he had.
Arteta has no regrets selling star to Fulham
Palace v Fulham 9 November 2024, London – Premier League Football – Crystal Palace v Fulham – Emile Smith Rowe of Fulham celebrates scoring the opening goal with Reiss Nelson – Photo: Charlotte Wilson / Offside. London UK *** Palace gegen Fulham 9. November 2024, London Premier League Fußball Crystal Palace gegen Fulham Emile Smith Rowe von Fulham feiert den Führungstreffer mit Reiss Nelson Foto Charlotte Wilson Abseits London UK PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xCharlottexWilsonx/xOffsidexOffside
Ahead of the clash against Fulham this weekend, Arteta was questioned about his decision to sell Smith Rowe to Fulham,
“It was a very tough decision to let Emile go, especially because personally I feel really grateful for what he did for the club and for me in a period of time that I think he was instrumental to change something around it. But at the end, players have to play.
“He had a lot of difficult moments, a lot of struggles with injuries when we were together and he needed a fresh start. It’s normal, we understood that and we allowed him to go.”
Smith Rowe has been an ever-present for Fulham this season, making 13 starts, scoring three goals and creating a couple of assists for his teammates. He will be odds on to put up a stormer against his former side, so it will be an interesting battle.
