I left Arsenal to save my career – now I’m back to prove them wrong in my biggest game

Fulham’s Emile Smith Rowe will face Arsenal next month in an emotional reunion for the Hale End academy product.

The 24-year-old joined the Cottagers in the summer transfer window for a club-record fee of £34million.

He made his debut in the 2021/22 season under Unai Emery, but struggled for a lack of game time in recent seasons.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta, who previously described Smith Rowe as a ‘beautiful player to watch’, reluctantly sanctioned the transfer deal after talks with the versatile midfielder in the summer.

"I can't remember an actual, exact moment," Smith Rowe said. "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."

Now reunited at Fulham with former Arsenal teammates Alex Iwobi and Bernd Leno, as well as loanee Reiss Nelson, Smith Rowe is fully fit and delivering superb performances week in, week out.

"[It's] Really difficult. Definitely," said Smith Rowe when asked by the Telegraph about dealing with fitness setbacks.

"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."

Smith Rowe has rediscovered his goalscoring touch after scoring three goals and creating two assists in his first eleven games - and now he wants more.

"It was a relief [to score]. Just because I haven't had a feeling like in a long time.

"It's hard to explain the feeling. Just knowing that you have scored the goal and everyone is looking at you. I have really missed that feeling. It's literally addictive. You want to know what it's like tomorrow and the next day."

Arsenal make the short journey across London to face Fulham on December 8, in what promises to be a highly emotional occasion for Smith Rowe, as he looks to prove Arteta wrong.