Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
George Smith

Fans noticed what Arsenal did when announcing Emile Smith Rowe's new long-term contract

Arsenal have officially announced that attacking-midfielder Emile Smith Rowe has penned a new long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium.

After several weeks of speculation concerning his future, including interest from Aston Villa, the Gunners academy graduate has now put pen to paper on a new deal in north London, believed to be worth five years.

As well as committing his future to the Gunners ahead of the start of the new campaign, Smith Rowe has also taken the No.10 shirt, following in the footsteps of some of the most famous players to have played for Arsenal in years gone by.

On signing a new deal at the Emirates Stadium, Smith Rowe told Arsenal's club website: "It's been a crazy journey, like I said, being here since I was 10 years old, coming through the ranks with loads of team-mates and stuff along the way.

"So finally putting pen to paper on a long-term deal is something that I've been waiting to do.

"I feel like it's definitely been an up and down journey, there have been a lot of downs with injuries and so on, and I feel like I've had a lot of experience, going out on loan and stuff. So it's definitely been a hard one, but I'm really happy to commit my future to Arsenal.

"I feel like I don't really try to set myself any challenges going forward, I try to keep moving forward game by game and see how it goes. I don't like to put too much pressure on myself, but I'm sure it's going to be a big season for me and the team as well."

When it came to the official announcement of Smith Rowe signing a new deal in north London, the Hale End academy graduate featured in a video that was released by the club, with most football clubs nowadays confirming announcements of such magnitude with smart and vibrant videos.

Interestingly, a few Arsenal fans noticed something in particular about the video - the fact that it was 32 seconds in length, which, of course, is the same number as his former shirt number.

Below, football.london has taken a quick look at what some Gunners fans have had to say in response to Arsenal's creativity in their official announcement of Smith Rowe penning a new deal.

Although it could be considered as a coincidence that the video confirming Smith Rowe's new contract was 32 seconds in length, Arsenal have responded to one supporter who was praising the club's work with a winking face emoji, making it clear that it was always their intention to make it a little creative.

It was, of course, a nice touch for a player who has risen through the club's youth ranks and is now looking forward to, hopefully, becoming a superstar for the club he has been on the books of since the age of just ten.

On Smith Rowe signing a new deal, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said: "As we all saw last season, Emile is an intelligent player with excellent ability. His sharpness on the turn and exceptional vision have already made him a key player for us.

"His attitude and willingness to learn have also been very impressive. Huge credit to our team in our academy who have given Emile a great education and have worked superbly to help with his development through the age groups."

Do you want an exclusive pre-season Arsenal preview - both in your inbox and through your letterbox? Head over here to find out more and secure your copy!

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.