30 August 2023 , 09:32
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Arsenal icon David Seaman has admitted he is "hurt" by the idea of Emile Smith Rowe leaving the Gunners after recent reports linked the midfielder with a move to Chelsea.
Smith Rowe has found first-team minutes hard to come by at the Emirates in recent times, which has sparked speculation that his days as an Arsenal player could be numbered. Following a breakout season in 2020/21 and a stellar second campaign the next time around, hopes were high that the England international would go on to cement himself as a Gunners great.
However, Smith Rowe's 2022/23 effort was marred by fitness issues, with the 23-year-old undergoing surgery on a groin issue in October which ruled him out for the entirety of the festive period. With that being said, the attacking midfielder was deemed fit enough to be in the squad for the North London derby in January.
And yet, Smith Rowe failed to get off the bench more often than not for the rest of last season and rarely influenced proceedings when he did. The most he has played in any one league game since the turn of the year was 47 minutes at home to Bournemouth back in March.
Smith Rowe now also finds himself in a position where he is below Fabio Vieira in the pecking order of deputies to Martin Odegaard and has not scored a league goal for the Gunners since April of last year. Despite this, Chelsea are reportedly keen on enticing him away from the Emirates, the idea of which Arsenal legend Seamen is not too keen on.
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"That would hurt for me, because him and [Bukayo] Saka, they’re one of our own and all of that sort of stuff," the former England shot-stopper told the Seaman Says podcast.
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Emile Smith Rowe has not made a Premier League appearance this season (Getty Images)"And that’s why, for me, even when [Mason] Mount went to Man United, I felt like that was like ‘woah, that’s a big part of your team that’s gone.’ And I think that would be the same for Smith Rowe [at Arsenal]. I would be very surprised if he went to Chelsea, really surprised. I don’t want it to happen, if I’m honest."
It has since emierged that Arsenal are not planning to let Smith Rowe join Chelsea, but question marks remain over his long-term future, especially as he has not featured in any of the Gunners' first three league games this season.