Emile Smith Rowe says he had to leave Arsenal ‘for his own happiness’ after joining Fulham in the summer.
The midfielder made the move across the capital in July, becoming Fulham’s club record signing in a £34million deal.
Smith Rowe emerged from Arsenal’s Hale End academy alongside Bukayo Saka and looked on course to become a fixture in the first-team for years to come.
The 24-year-old struggled for first-team opportunities the last two seasons however with injuries also hampering his progress in north London.
Smith Rowe has started six of Fulham’s seven Premier League matches this season, scoring twice and providing one assist for Marco Silva’s side.
‘I can’t remember an actual, exact moment,’ Smith Rowe told the Daily Telegraph, discussing his decision to leave the Emirates.
‘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.’
Smith Rowe missed 26 games with groin and thigh injuries during the 2022-23 season, also sidelined with a knee injury last term. While he was fit again for the second-half of the campaign, Smith Rowe started just two league games as the Gunners pushed for the Premier League title.
‘[It’s] Really difficult. Ups and downs with injuries and then getting back fit and then not getting the opportunities that I obviously wanted,’ he continued.
‘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.’
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