David Seaman ‘hurt’ by prospect of Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe joining Chelsea

Arsenal legend David Seaman admits he is ‘hurt’ by the prospect of Emile Smith Rowe leaving the Gunners in order to join Chelsea.

The north London club are thought to be prepared to sell Smith Rowe in the final days of the summer transfer window after Chelsea registered their interest.

Arsenal have rejected Chelsea’s first bid for the 23-year-old Englishman but talks are expected to continue over a transfer.

Smith Rowe’s Arsenal Career

Smith Rowe came through Arsenal’s academy but an injury-hit 2022-23 campaign has seen him fall down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta and he has not featured in any of Gunners’ three Premier League games so far this season.

Seaman, though, does not want Arsenal to sell Smith Rowe as he said on his podcast: ‘That would hurt for me, because him and [Bukayo] Saka, they’re one of our own and all of that sort of stuff.

‘And that’s why, for me, even when [Mason] Mount went to Man United, I felt like that was like, ‘Woah, that’s a big part of your team that’s gone’ – and I think that would be the same for Smith Rowe [at Arsenal].

‘I would be very surprised if he went to Chelsea, really surprised. I don’t want it to happen, if I’m honest.’

Chelsea’s Interest in Smith Rowe

It’s claimed that Chelsea would be willing to offer players to Arsenal as part of their deal to sign Smith Rowe.

Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino is keen to add a new versatile attacker to his ranks after his squad was hit by several injuries.

Christopher Nkunku is out of action until the end of the year and Armando Broja is still recovering while Carney Chukwuemeka picked up an injury against West Ham last week and Mykhailo Mudryk is also sidelined.

Conclusion

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will accept any offer from Chelsea for Smith Rowe but it is clear that Seaman does not want to see him leave the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have already lost several key players in recent seasons and Seaman believes it would be a huge blow if Smith Rowe was to join Chelsea.