Mikel Arteta Says He Didn’t Do Enough For Emile Smith Rowe At Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that he didn’t do enough for the club’s academy product, Emile Smith Rowe who exited the club in this summer transfer window.

Emile Smith Rowe, who couldn’t play regularly under the tutelage of coach Arteta last season after struggling with fitness issues, decided to move to another Premier League club, Fulham, for a transfer deal worth £34 million this summer.

Ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League matchday two encounter against Aston Villa, Mikel Arteta told reporters that he regrets not being able to bring out the best in the young midfielder during his time at the club.

The Spanish tactician, however, expressed his gratitude for Smith Rowe’s contributions at a challenging period for the club and acknowledged the impact the 24-year-old English attacking midfielder made on the Gunners.

“First of all I have huge gratitude because he came into the team at a tough moment,” Arteta said.

“I think he was the player that made our supporters and the team click, in a way. I don’t know how to explain it but that was my feeling.

“Something changed when he came into the team. He created a different energy straight away. And I have a feeling like ‘argh’, that I have not got the best out of him. Obviously, a lot of things happened in that time.”