Mikel Arteta unveils major club change with Emile Smith Rowe as key player in new role

Arsenal has made a significant change in its leadership structure, as Stan Kroenke and Josh Kroenke have been appointed as Co-Chairs, while Tim Lewis takes up the role of Executive Vice-Chair.

This comes after Kroenke Sports & Entertainment acquired full ownership of Arsenal in 2018. Josh Kroenke has been a non-executive director at Arsenal since 2013, while Lewis left his position at Clifford Chance law firm to focus on the Gunners.

Stan Kroenke emphasized the family’s continued dedication to the club and the importance of stability in football, particularly as the pandemic recedes. According to him, this is the right time to formalize these positions to drive Arsenal forward.

Emile Smith Rowe, an Arsenal player, has been struggling with injuries throughout the season, but he is now “pain-free” and could be given a new role in Mikel Arteta’s team.

Despite Arsenal’s challenge for the Premier League title and Europa League, Smith Rowe has only played for 136 minutes this season. However, his return to fitness is timely for Arteta, who will be happy to have another option for his team.

Gabriel Jesus has also returned to action after a three-month absence due to a knee injury. Smith Rowe’s injury problems date back to pre-season, where he was injured during preparations for the 2022/23 campaign and missed the first game of the season.

Although he has experienced setbacks in his rehabilitation, it is expected that he will regain his form with time. William Saliba, a Frenchman and Smith Rowe’s teammate, expressed his excitement about the English playmaker’s return to training, saying “The Smith is back!” in a video clip from London Colney that was widely circulated online last week.

Arsenal is planning to prioritize signing West Ham captain Declan Rice in the summer transfer window as they seek to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s team. Rice’s contract with West Ham is set to expire at the end of next season, so the Hammers may consider selling their star midfielder.

Rice has not been shy about his desire to play for a top Premier League club that competes in the Champions League. Former Liverpool and Chelsea defender Glen Johnson believes that Rice would be a better fit for Chelsea than for Arsenal.

However, Johnson acknowledges that Arsenal is now a strong team and has a chance to compete with other clubs for Rice’s signature. He believes that Arsenal has done well this season and has earned the right to be in the mix for Rice’s transfer, something that he would have found hard to believe a year ago.