Mikel Arteta drops hint on Emile Smith Rowe’s Arsenal exit amid links with PL club

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hinted that Emile Smith Rowe is set to leave the Gunners after the midfielder was left out of the team to face Bournemouth in a pre-season game in California.

Smith Rowe has fallen down the pecking order with the likes of Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, and Leandro Trossard being Arteta’s preferred choices. The attacking midfielder has been linked with a move to Fulham. The Cottagers saw a 30 million pound bid turned down but have since returned with a 35 million pound bid.

Speaking of Smith Rowe’s future, Arteta said (via The Guardian), “There are things happening in the background at the moment. We decided the best thing to do was to keep him away from the game today.”

Fulham’s 35 million pound bid is a record for the London club with Jean Michael Seri being their record signing. The Cottagers paid 27 million pound for the Ivorian in 2018.