Emile Smith Rowe promoted to first team

Emile Smith Rowe joins Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, and Joe Willock in being promoted to the first team, and assigned a new number. Jeorge Bird reports that Smith Rowe is in line to get the number 32 shirt, most famously worn by Theo Walcott before he moved to number 14.

Smith Rowe played six times for the first team last season in the Europa League and Carabao Cup, scoring twice in the Europa League and once in the Carabao Cup, becoming the first player born after 2000 to score for the Gunners. The Croydon born attacking midfielder spent the second half of the season on loan at RB Leipzig, but injury restricted him to three short appearances. There’s been some talk that he may go out on loan again, but for now, it seems as if Smith Rowe will be involved in Arsenal’s pre-season.

An attacking midfielder with an eye for goal, Smith Rowe could be thought of as an eventual internal replacement for Aaron Ramsey, who linked up with Juventus this week.