Emile Smith Rowe has admitted leaving Arsenal was the ‘toughest decision’ he has had to make.
Smith Rowe left Arsenal in the summer after signing for Fulham in a £34m club-record deal.
A graduate of the club’s Hale End academy system, the midfielder burst onto the scene during the 2021/22 season but saw injuries hamper his progress.
After featuring for just 511 minutes in the Premier League over the last two seasons, the 24-year-old made the decision to leave Arsenal for a regular role.
He has started brightly at Fulham with two goals and an assist in seven games, reaffirming the ‘tough’ decision to leave Arsenal to kickstart his career.
“I can’t remember an actual, exact moment,” Smith Rowe told The Telegraph, (via Yahoo! Sport) when asked if there was a moment he realised he needed to leave Arsenal.
“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. 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 (to leave). But I spoke to my family and we decided it was the best thing for me.”
He said it was difficult watching from the sidelines upon his return from injury, having already missed so much football.
However, he insists ‘it’s all love’ with Arsenal as he supports his ex-teammates from afar.
“Really difficult. Definitely. 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. My family were there for me and I tried to stay as positive as I could. But it’s football and these things happen.
“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.”
