---
title: "Arsenal: Fans were left unimpressed with Emile Smith Rowe on full Premier League debut"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-fans-were-left-unimpressed-with-emile-smith-rowe-on-full-premier-league-debut/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2019-12-21T18:30:57Z"
modified: "2019-12-21T18:30:57Z"
---

# Arsenal: Fans were left unimpressed with Emile Smith Rowe on full Premier League debut

**Arsenal teenager Emile Smith Rowe made his full Premier League debut this afternoon but that didn’t spare him from unforgiving reviews from a number of Gunners fans on Twitter.**

The 18-year-old, who [came in for Mesut Ozil](https://www.skysports.com/football/everton-vs-arsenal/report/408154), was given his [first Premier League start](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emile-smith-rowe/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/392765/verein/11) in today’s 0-0 draw away to Everton, having [debuted in the competition as a substitute](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emile-smith-rowe/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/392765/verein/11) in the defeat to Manchester City last week.

The attacking midfielder, who was [substituted for Joe Willock on 66 minutes](https://www.skysports.com/football/everton-vs-arsenal/teams/408154), did not manage any shots at Goodison Park and his total of 33 touches was the second fewest of Arsenal’s outfield starters (as per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376265/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Everton-Arsenal)).

At one stage he [passed up what seemed an ideal opportunity to shoot](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/players/arsenal-player-ratings-reiss-nelson-17458206) when better placed than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with [Football London](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/players/arsenal-player-ratings-reiss-nelson-17458206) writer James Benge saying: “There were moments when you wanted him to assert himself”.

Josh Sippie of [paininthearsenal.com](https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/12/21/arsenal-vs-everton-player-ratings-4/4/) felt that Smith Rowe was “undoubtedly nervous” on his first Premier League start, adding that he “didn’t touch the ball much, but when he did, it was heavy and sloppy” – he was guilty of poor ball control on three occasions against Everton and misplaced four of his 22 passes (as per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376265/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Everton-Arsenal)).

These Arsenal fans on Twitter were far from impressed with the teenager’s full league debut:

> Man were blowing Smith Rowe n dissing willock but willock has far more impact then him lol
>
> — Akh (@RilwanLucas) [December 21, 2019](https://twitter.com/RilwanLucas/status/1208374124776693761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Smith Rowe has been very unimpressive, doesnt look ready. \
> Also our fullbacks havent been overlapping whatsoever, makes us so much easier to defend
>
> — Dylan (@AFCDylan\_) [December 21, 2019](https://twitter.com/AFCDylan_/status/1208376947618861058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/TikiTakaConnor/status/1208377334266511360

https://twitter.com/ItzArsenal420/status/1208382676840919047

https://twitter.com/rgclarke92/status/1208382430081699840

https://twitter.com/PaulWhitworth\_/status/1208382094088519680

> Emile Smith-Rowe is having an absolute stinker
>
> — Moh (@mohammadscek) [December 21, 2019](https://twitter.com/mohammadscek/status/1208371367881650176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Smith Rowe has offered literally nothing, looks lost
>
> — GR (@GeorgeRobbins10) [December 21, 2019](https://twitter.com/GeorgeRobbins10/status/1208381754341515264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

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