A forgotten man at Arsenal, Emile Smith Rowe, is reportedly considering a transfer away from the club in the January window.

Smith Rowe’s game time at Arsenal has becoming increasingly limited over the past couple of years – a transfer would allow him to receive the regular first team football that he both wants and needs for the good of his professional footballing career.

What did Emile Smith Rowe say in his most recent interview?

In a recent interview, Smith Rowe said [via 90min]: “I have changed a bit of my mentality… just to go for it. I have not really got anything to lose. I have tried to change that inside me,” he said. “I used to have a lot of doubts. I used to question my confidence, at times. But now I am really strong. I am feeling really fit and I am taking that into now.

“The gaffer has really helped me with that. He was helping me through my injury and often pulled me for chats about how I can be mentally stronger. I tried to support the boys as much as I could when I couldn’t help them on the pitch. It was really tough but I am stronger now.

“When I heard [supporters cheering him onto the pitch] in the Champions League, it was a really proud moment for me and my family. It has been hard sometimes not coming on and sometimes [you are] disappointed, but this is life, this is football. You have got to keep going.”

Should Arsenal sell Emile Smith Rowe?

The first question Mikel Arteta should be asking himself is this – where does Smith Rowe fit into his system? If there is no concrete answer to this, then he should allow the 23-year-old to move on for the good of his career.

Teams such as Aston Villa, Brighton and Newcastle United are all reportedly interested in the player – if they are willing to give him a greater share of playing time, then it makes sense for Smith Rowe to depart the Emirates Stadium. As things stand, he has not started in a Premier League game since May 2022.

It would be a shame to see him go, given his limitless natural ability – but it would also be a shame to see him waste away at a club that has no place for him.