Emile Smith Rowe is staying at Arsenal and has signed a new long-term contract at the club. The 20-year-old has also been given the No 10 shirt, previously worn by Mesut Ozil, for the upcoming season. The Premier League club on Thursday announced the commencement of the deal but did not reveal its duration.
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What Mikel Arteta has said about Emile Smith Rowe
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: “Emile Smith Rowe is an intelligent player with excellent ability. His sharpness on the turn and exceptional vision have already made him a key player for us”
“As we all saw last season, Emile is an intelligent player with excellent ability.
“His sharpness on the turn and exceptional vision have already made him a key player for us. His attitude and willingness to learn have also been very impressive.”
“I know the fans will join us in being delighted that Emile has committed his future to the club. We’re now looking forward to helping him develop further and seeing him become even more important to the strong young team we’re building.”
Arsenal rejected two consecutive bids from Aston Villa, the first one believed to be around £25m and the second one at £30m. Smith Rowe’s previous deal was due to expire in 2023. It is rumoured that the 20-year-old signed a contract till 2026. The length of the new contract has not been made public but is reported in the English media as a five-year deal.
The Arsenal academy graduate arrived at the club when he was nine years old. He has had loan spells at Huddersfield and Leipzig since making his senior debut in 2018. Emile Smith Rowe impressed during the second half of 2020/21 season, scoring four goals and providing seven assists in 33 appearances in all competitions as Arsenal finished eighth in the Premier League.
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Emile Smith Rowe’s first words after signing the new Contract
“When I was younger, I used to watch Dennis Bergkamp, and when I was going through the academy Mesut Ozil was here as well and getting the opportunity to train with him and play with him as well was unbelievable,” Emile Smith Rowe told the club’s website.
“I just want to keep working hard and hopefully I can play like them and replicate what they’ve done.”
Arsenal technical director Edu said: “This is another important step forward for us and we’re all delighted that Emile has signed a new long-term contract,” said the Brazilian.
“It’s great to see another young player develop through our academy system to become a key part of our first team.
“Emile is a player who represents the future of the Club and this is why we have given him the number 10 shirt. We have trust in Emile and we know he has the potential to be a beautiful player for many years to come.”
Sportsmail previously revealed in January that Emile Smith Rowe was being lined up for a new deal before the start of next season. Arsenal have managed to convince him for a long-term stay at the Emirates.
The Gunners are also in talks with Roma for the exit of Granit Xhaka but talks have not reached to a conclusion yet due to price gaps.
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