Emile Smith Rowe has ended speculation of joining Aston Villa this summer by signing a new long-term deal with Arsenal.
The midfielder has also taken the vacant No10 shirt, previously worn by Mesut Ozil, as a further indication of his importance to Arsenal.
He broke into the first team last season around Christmas time and established himself as a key cog in their revival under Mikel Arteta during the second half of the season.
Arteta has big plans for Smith Rowe and he sees him as a crucial part of the club’s future going forward, which is why Arsenal never entertained any bids for him.
Arsenal technical director Edu said: “This is another important step forward for us and we’re all delighted that Emile has signed a new long-term contract.
“It’s great to see another young player develop through our academy system to become a key part of our first team.
“Emile is a player who represents the future of the club and this is why we have given him the No10 shirt.
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“We have trust in Emile and we know he has the potential to be a beautiful player for many years to come.”
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
