Arsenal have been warned they may regret letting go of a key player, as Liverpool’s recent performance highlights the challenges ahead. Declan Rice has also been reminded of the tough reality in the Premier League, with Arsenal having a difficult time keeping up with title contenders.
Arsenal Warned of Regret After ‘Top Player’ Shines Again
Fulham boss Marco Silva has warned Arsenal and Mikel Arteta that they will regret allowing Emile Smith Rowe to leave.
After climbing the ranks in north London and appearing to secure a first-team spot under Arteta, Emile Smith Rowe’s position was undermined by the arrival of Martin Odegaard and persistent injuries, leading him to fall out of favor.
The Cottagers, who finished 13th in the Premier League last season but are thriving under Silva this year—level on points with Arsenal—seized the chance to sign £34-million-rated Smith Rowe and haven’t regretted it.
The 24-year-old came close to scoring a brace against Crystal Palace on Saturday due to a VAR decision and has impressed with three goals and two assists this season. Now, his manager, Silva, believes that his former club may regret letting him go.
“Sometimes the most expensive ones are the players that don’t perform. When you saw him, and we had a small chance to fight to have him here, I told our board that we need to fight with everything we can because we needed a player like him,” Silva told BBC Match of the Day.
“Creative in those pocket areas, a player who will score more throughout the season – I don’t have doubts – he’s a lovely kid, a lovely boy who is going to become a man and improve. He’s already a really good player; he’s going to be a top player. It’s so nice to have a talent like him to work with.”
While Silva hints that regret may soon hit Arteta, the Arsenal manager has already expressed remorse after Smith Rowe’s departure, acknowledging that he may have let him down.
“I have a feeling like ‘argh,’ that I have not got the best out of him [Smith Rowe],” Arteta stated earlier in the season when asked about the sale of Smith Rowe.
“Obviously, a lot of things happened. From my side, it was really sad because I know how those boys feel when they are in that building and how hard everyone works to get them close to the first team, so I feel a huge responsibility to give them a chance.
“I have huge gratitude because he [Smith Rowe] came into the team at a tough moment. I think he was the player that made our supporters and the team click, in a way.”
Smith Rowe will face his former club and reconnect with their fans on December 8 when Arteta’s team visits Craven Cottage.
Liverpool Reveals Harsh Arsenal Truth to Declan Rice
Declan Rice says Liverpool’s comeback shows how tough it will be for Arsenal to win the Premier League this season.
The Gunners face Chelsea on Sunday, 10 points behind Arne Slot’s side, who won 2-0 against Aston Villa.
Nunez and Salah’s goals helped Liverpool to six wins in seven, while Arsenal slid to sixth after three straight Premier League draws.
Isak’s header at St James’ Park gave Arsenal a shock 1-0 defeat, boosting Liverpool and Manchester City’s title hopes.
Gunners midfielder Rice said Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Brighton served as a harsh reminder of the Premier League’s tough nature.
“We were watching it [Bournemouth 2-1 Manchester City] on the coach as there was a bit of traffic on the way to the airport [Newcastle],” recalled Rice in an interview with Sky Sports.
“We were watching the City game and saw that they were 1-0 down and then 2-0. But then, obviously, Liverpool were 1-0 down, and then you check your phone, and they scored two in two minutes. That’s the level, you know?
“That’s the level of the Premier League, and anything can happen at any given stage. That’s why you can’t rely on others for favors, you know. You have to rely on yourself.
“I think these last three games have been a blip in the road, and we’ve dropped points, which is not ideal. But, like I said, it’s down to us, really. We can’t control other people. We can only control what we do.”
The England international views Sunday’s trip to Stamford Bridge as a “must-win” for Arsenal to stay in the race with Manchester City and Liverpool in the coming weeks.
“Yeah, for sure,” said Rice. “With the quality of the Premier League and the quality of the two other teams [Liverpool and City], the likes of Villa and Chelsea as well, you can’t afford to be ten points behind.”
Get the Latest Scores! Check out today’s football headlines and updates to stay informed.
Check Updates
