The 24-year-old is nearing a move to Fulham for a club-record fee of £34million with Marco Silva's side agreeing terms with Arsenal for the transfer of the attacking midfielder.
While his impending departure will be a bitter pill to swallow for Gunners fans considering Smith Rowe's ties to the club since childhood, it's perhaps a decision that was bound to happen due to his lack of game-time over the past couple of seasons.
Following his breakthrough season in the 2021/22 campaign where he bagged 10 league goals in 33 games, he's since played as many games in all competitions in the past two seasons combined without scoring a single goal.
His struggles in front of goal were on full show in Arsenal's 1-0 defeat to Southampton in April 2022 when he was criticised by club legend Ian Wright for missing a huge opportunity from close range to put the team level as he lamented the midfielder's lack of composure and calmness.
Speaking on Premier League Productions, the former England international said: "Look at Arsenal here, Emile Smith Rowe, he really slashed at that, you want a bit of composure. You want a bit of calmness there.
"You look at the way he really smashes himself at this. All you want really is to get on that and get a clean contact on target. The goalkeeper is still stretching to try and save it. If he gets a good contact then he probably scores. The problem is striking. And taking chances. You saw those chances, they weren’t half-chances. They were good chances."
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The 24-year-old was unfortunately unable to turn his fortunes around since that match and has been on the fringes for the past few seasons. Smith Rowe - who's been on pre-season tour with the Gunners - has already agreed personal terms with the Cottagers and is expected to join up with his new club at their pre-season training camp in Portugal upon the completion of his medical.
Smith Rowe is set to become Fulham's second signing this season following the return of Ryan Sessegnon who departed Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer after five years.
The England star's exit will cap off what has been a busy period for Arsenal, who welcomed their second signing of the summer after concluding a £42m deal for Riccardo Calafiori.
Calafiori arrives after David Raya made his loan move permanent from Brentford earlier in the summer and could soon be followed by Euro 2024 winner and Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino, with the Gunners said to be closing in on a deal.
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