Jamie O’Hara names the one Arsenal transfer mistake that’s left them ‘short’

Jamie O’Hara feels Arsenal made a mistake by selling Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham in the last summer transfer window, insisting it’s left them ‘short’.

Smith Rowe was a highly regarded youth player at Arsenal, having progressed through the Hale End academy, and breaking into Mikel Arteta’s first team.

He spent a total of 14 years at the club from 2010 to 2024 – making 114 appearances – but was sold to Fulham in a deal worth £34m in August.

Former Tottenham star O’Hara feels north London rivals Arsenal will come to regret offloading the 24-year-old attacking midfielder.

‘Arsenal have left themselves short by selling Emile Smith-Rowe,’ ex-Spurs midfielder O’Hara told Grosvenor Sport.

‘They relied on Martin Odegaard staying fit and they didn’t bring in a centre forward.

‘They’ve had to play Kai Havertz in the No.10 and work Leandro Trossard in there – it hasn’t quite worked out for them.

‘Emile Smith Rowe is a very talented player – maybe that’s the one they will look back on and see him as one that got away, now they’re in a situation where they are struggling without Odegaard.

‘Reiss Nelson was good for Fulham the other day as well and would have a place in this set up.’

Smith Rowe has produced two goals and two assists across his opening 10 Premier League games for Fulham.

He became Fulham’s ‘main transfer target’ the moment Arsenal confirmed they were willing to sell him, Marco Silva revealed earlier this season.

‘He is a rare player,’ the Fulham boss said. ‘We were in the market for a player with his profile; we wanted someone that can play there between the lines, can give us a little bit more creativity in that space, a player that can arrive in the box. He has the capacity to do it.

‘We defined him as the main target for that position when we felt Arsenal was opening to selling him. We worked hard to get him in. His technical quality and creativity is what we need from a player in that position.’