Express & Star journalist Luke Hatfield says it was a shame that Aston Villa couldn’t sign Emile Smith Rowe during the summer.
Villa made a couple of bids for the Arsenal youngster during the transfer window, with BBC Sport reporting that the Gunners rejected a £25million bid and then also a £30million bid, before Smith Rowe put pen-to-paper on a contract at the Emirates.
The 21-year-old signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal and was given the number ten shirt to wear during this campaign after progressing through the academy with the Gunners.
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Hatfield believes it was a shame that Villa couldn’t sign the attacking midfielder during the summer, telling This is Futbol: “It was a shame for Villa that they couldn’t get him in but obviously Arsenal, they put the money down on his new deal and they got him to stick around.”
Smith Rowe has made a terrific start to the campaign for Arsenal as he has scored four goals and provided two assists in all competitions so far, including one against Aston Villa and following Arsenal’s victory against Dean Smith’s side, Gary Neville was full of praise for the youngster and his teammate Bukayo Saka.
On the 21-year-old, he said (via Sky Sports Football): “I think he’s a breath of fresh air. I think he has been since he’s come into the team. Him and Saka just make you feel like you should about football, which is just joy.”