An iconic shirt worn by the likes of Bergkamp, Van Persie, and Ozil has now been handed to the rising Gunners star.
Emile Smith Rowe requested the No. 10 shirt, reveals Mikel Arteta who feels the request demonstrates “ambition” and “desire” on the player’s part.
Smith Rowe’s future had been up in the air since the past few weeks as he was linked with a move away from Arsenal after enjoying a breakthrough season.
Arsenal reportedly recieved and rejected two sizeable transfer offers from Aston Villa for their academy graduate, who was a silver lining for the London side’s in their otherwise bleak 2020-21 campaign.
The 20-year-old recently finally put an end to months of speculations by putting pen to paper on a new long-term deal at the Emirates.
“He asked for [the No 10 shirt], so that shows you the ambition and desire,” Arteta told the club’s official website.
“I prefer players who ask for more than maybe they can take but if they believe they can do it, don’t put a limit on it. When he asked me and asked the club that he would like to get that [number], okay, let’s go.
“We talked a little bit, we discussed it and he knows the consequences of that, but he feels prepared to do it and if he is prepared to do it, then I am going to be right behind him to try to make him as comfortable and as happy as possible to do what he wants to do.”
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