Friday, March 29, 2024

Perfect 10: Smith Rowe gets a new number

Emile Smith Rowe is Arsenal’s new number 10. Accompanying the announcement of his new contract came the change of number from last season’s 35.

The 20 year old follows in the footsteps of such luminaries as Dennis Bergkamp, Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil and Paul Merson.

Smith Rowe had been the subject of bids from Aston Villa this summer, but they were rejected out of hand with Mikel Arteta insisting, “Yes. He will stay here. 100%.”

So, now he inherits the creative midfield mantle and the responsibility that comes with such a number, not that it looks like it will faze him one bit.

“Everyone knows that No 10 is a big shirt and it is definitely a big position as well,” he told the official website.

“So I’m buzzing to be honest, I can’t wait to get on the pitch. It’s really special – I can’t explain the feeling when I found out. I’ve not really got the words to explain it right now!

“The legends that have played here and have worn the shirt… it’s a bit too much right now but I’m sure I will calm down after a while!

“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.

“I just want to keep working hard and hopefully I can play like them and replicate what they’ve done.”

ESR10, Aston Villa 0.

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Jules

He deserves it. good luck my friend, we love you!

Andy

He’s the future. The new Bergkamp.

Johnny 4 Hats

Tierney + Saka = Emile Smith Rowe

These three boys are going to bring us out of the dark ages.

COYFG!!!

C.B.

Our win rate with ESR in the team is much better than without. Great news, look forward to that continuing!

punter

super chuffed by this (like a new signing chuffed)

The half

‘ave it!

Salt from villans. As if he would go to them.

Lettra

They can try for Haaland .. or Messi or someone . Our lad is staying here..

Bren Roberts

Great news.

Kyle Bradshaw

No love for our greatest number ten William Gallas?

Bob's Mexican Cousin

We don’t do numbers very well lol. Let’s hope Martinelli gets 11, wouldn’t be surprised if they gave it to our third keeper though

Ray's ice cream Parlour

Always thought that Gallas was the worst signing every made by Wenger.

Qwaliteee

No.

That accolade, my friend, goes to Shkodran Mustafi.

At least with Gallas in the side we maintained our top four status.

In Mustafi’s first season we dropped out of the top four – and we’ve never been back, largely due to his serial cockups.

Longbow

Squillaci? At least Mustafi scored a goal in a North London Derby win.

Pearson

Fishface Silvestre.

Andy

Oh cod, was he awful.

Tómas

Wasn’t his old number 32?

Tasmanian Jesus

Yep

Lettra

Get in!!

This proves it..

We are a bigger club than VIlla.

Vic lin

Never thought that we will compare with Villa one day. Anyway it’s a wonderful news. It seems that we are progressing. More wise signing please.

Bren Roberts

Sadly, back in the late eighties Villa won the league on a couple of occasions, once at “The Home of Football”, also known as Highbury Stadium.

It felt almost as bad as the thought of them getting ASR.

Qwaliteee

Villa won the old 1st Division Title (now the EPL) in 1980/81 and The European Cup (now the ECL) in 1981/82.

The mid to late 80’s mainly saw Everton and Liverpool winning the title.

Except 1988/89……😉

Chidi

Wanted to like your post but 32 likes jUst feels perfect

ChickPEA

Just wish he had ‘The Smith’ written on this jersey.

A M

the smith hammers one home from distance!

T.A.

Play like Bergkamp, aka God, and replicate what he’s done. No pressure at all. Good luck to him, Saka and Tierney. The jewels in our crown.

Thierry Bergkamp (non negotiable)

Down voted by 3 christians or Sp*rs fans

TeeCee

Hmm, you have 3 downvotes. As they haven’t repented, they must be spuds.

Prime cazorla

Left out martinelli.

Trevin

Well deserved. Hope he sticks around a long time!

Tommmy

Don’t forget he Follows in the footsteps of Gallas! Some big whinging boots to fill right there.

UzesGooner

Boom! Fantastic news…….can’t help thinking the Florida away day cancellation is a good thing, so we can focus on the rebuild and other new signings atm

onenil

Agreed too much more work to do here.. Although its not great for gooners in the USA, or our bank balance I guess

UzesGooner

Yeah I know, but we can go next year when things have improved on and off the pitch hopefully !

Top Bins

Buzzing for The Smith! He deserves his new contract and im pretty sure all Gooners will be cheering him on for many years to come. It does however raise the question on whether the plan is to play him behind the striker in the traditional 10 hole or are we still pursuing a senior high profile signing to play this position as we all understand is the case.. does this high profile 1st team signing then get discouraged by the fact that he’d need to choose a different number? dont get me wrong, the prospective AM signing should be playing… Read more »

Verdant

If The Smith could put on the number 32, who is he to reject it?

Teta's cult of personality

Good point, though even Cristiano had to accept number 9 when he went to Madrid. Plus number 8 is still available.

GoonerMike

Does this mean that’s it with Madders???

Jan

More likely shows was never real to begin with, would expect the #10 to be part of any deal for him.

GoonerMike

I’m obviously happy to be rewarding young talent….but lately, almost everyone we have rewarded has turned to the sh***rs!…PEA, Ozil…heck even Wilshere at some point….I really hope this works out….but I really cant shake the feeling that we keep yielding to player demands too easily…. ESR is still young, and will be going into his second season…are we happy with rewarding potential?? does this signal that this is the best we can do, in terms of quality, at attacking mid??….are we saying anyone other attacking mid signing would be backup to ESR??….maybe the longer this dreadful transfer window drags the… Read more »

Jagun

Breath brother, breath. We’re all afraid and anxious about the new season too, we’re just doing a better job being excited that we’re afraid than you are. Try a little daydreaming. I believe for example, that Arteta is building our champions league winning team. Think about it… I hear Sambi is injury free Diaby, Willock is Ramsey progressing without the leg break, AMN can be better than Trent of Liverpool, I’ll give him the number 3 shirt if he can be convinced to make that inverted rb position his own, white at the back with Gabriel, Captain Tierney! Our spanking… Read more »

GoonerMike

ESR has quite an injury record, and Partey was ‘injury free’ before he joined us….but hey, I guess Elneny is now Vieira

Sachin

Jesus there’s flies on the fucking birthday cake here

Thierry Bergkamp (non negotiable)

He’s worked hard to become a first team player. He was the lowest paid player in the squad, on something like 8k per week, but one of last seasons most influential.

He’s not being rewarded for potential

GoonerMike

But he hasn’t done it over multiple seasons….he’s just had one good breakthrough campaign…
I’m not slagging ESR, but I just hope we are not getting carried away..

Sachin

For the supporter of a club that’s slowly sinking lower and lower in the league you for one do have some truly high standards of who should get a contract and a jersey.

Explain how is being happy for a potentially incredible player from the academy is getting carried away?

If ESR had been bought over from Dortmund after paying 50M+ would that warm your socks?

Because that’s his current market evaluation.

GoonerMike

Essentially that is my point. Arsenal is a massive club…despite its recent dip…and because of everyone around the club seemingly accepting lower standards we find ourselves sinking lower and lower…

I’m not saying I’m not happy for ESR, but I simply highlighted how poorly the previous no.10s have performed and hoped that he would be much better

And honestly, I don’t think Arsenal would pay Dortmund (your scenario) 50M+ for a 20yr old Att Mid who has just had one breakout season…and then give him the no.10 jersey…

but hey, here’s to hoping for the best…

Teta's cult of personality

It’s just a jersey number really and a new contract more fitting for a first team player. I understand your reservations but it’s not like he’s been given life peerage or the deed to Arsenal stadium 🏟.

UzesGooner

Hope not….shirt numbers don’t mean much these days anyway

ChickPEA

I read somewhere Maddison saying that he sees himself more as an 8. That could solve the issue.

Henkamp

100/10 blogs for that last line.

Villa fans were becoming too cocky. That’d teach them to know their place.

Ex gooner

The decision to let Emi Martinez go to Villa makes Edu & co. look like the fools that they are.

IamsterdamGooner

I just assume downvotes are from our Colombian gooners 😂 ‘vamos, baila ahora¡’. What a character! Imagine Leno doing that ever?!
Big man just won the copa America against Brazil. And now Leno’s here one more year at most. But yeah,
Edu & co did real good here cuz we can all see Ramsdales always been the better option anyway.
For that alone, I’d be cocky too if I was Villa haha Martinez now 4x barely 1.5 year ago. And Leno…

shokim

Get in! Onwards and upwards.

Rob67

Excellent news.

Appels&Pere

We sold the wrong keeper.

Tapps

Fabulous news! I’ve been holding off getting the new shirt. Now I can go for it!

Possession

Croydon will never seem the same again. ESR … Superstar.

Grannis Xhergkamp

Villa we’re taking the piss trying to sign him in the first place. 5 minutes of good performances and a bit of extra cash does NOT constitute to them trying to muscle in on our players like they are Barca or Real. Reminds me of when city first got their money and immediately tried to sign KAKA… at least they tried to bid 100m for him, which was astronomical then. Yes, historically Villa are known but the whole thing was insulting especially the fee touted. Stay in your lane and hand over Grealish to a better club whilst you’re at… Read more »

Verdant

Is it just me, or does the new Arsenal jersey suddenly look more beautiful with this name and number?
Congrats boy.

Qwaliteee

Less of the ‘boy.’

He now wears the number 10 of The Arsenal – the dude is a man.

Nzini

Looks like Arsenal does not really give much of a f*#$& about the number 10 jersey when you look at recent history

Qwaliteee

Ozil? Wilshere? Bergkamp? Merson?

You don’t know what you’re talking about mate.

ChampionsITA

Take that Villa

Mentalista

Excellent news. Martine11i next.

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