It was confirmed this week that Matt Smith will be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of this month.
The midfielder has been at Arsenal for 16 years but will sadly leave without having made a competitive first-team appearance for the Gunners despite having been on the bench on 15 occasions, including for the FA Cup final win in 2020.
Smith has previously gained experience during loan spells at Swindon Town, Charlton Athletic and Doncaster Rovers and could now return to League One as he makes his first permanent move.
The 22-year-old has an impressive passing range and should be an asset to clubs in that division, although his final season at Arsenal was certainly a frustrating one from his perspective.
Smith spent the campaign as an overage player for the U21s and was also on the fringes of the first-team squad without really looking close to making a breakthrough.
Throughout a difficult situation Smith has remained professional and he has offered advice and encouragement to younger players in the U21 team.
Now, though, it is time for him to start forging a career for himself and he certainly seems capable of achieving that objective.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
More medals than Harry Kane, it’s fa cup winner Matt Smith!
And Smith scored only one goal less than Richarlison in the Premier League this season.
Own goal doesn’t count for Richie, I’m afraid, so they’re on equal footing.
Best of luck to the lad! 16 years representing Arsenal at youth level is nothing to be sniffed at on a footballing CV! Best of luck to him finding a good club to play regularly, would be very happy to see him running out at the Emirates in an FA Cup game down the road, here’s hoping
Best of luck Prince Daemon Targaryen.
To be honest, if I was Arteta, I’d have played Matt for 10 minutes at the end of the Wolves game. Matt deserved that recognition.
All the best in your journey ahead, Cup winner! May you always have more medals than Harry Kane!
you can only imagine what he must have felt the day nwaneri had his debut with us
Probably that same slightly tinged joy you get from seeing your own kids getting on well with your parents who were horrible to you. It’s 90% I’m genuinely happy for you but also that 10% of why weren’t you like that with me?
This doesn’t sit right with me, defo could’ve made money of smith if anything
he deserved those mins we gave to players like Sambi,Patino, Partay and ethan.. nw 60m on kai sorry but Arteta and Edu gotta go..
.p.s WE need new owners /
Early doors to be on the sauce, mate.
I’ve always wondered about him. Best wishes in what lies ahead, Matt! Thanks for the regular insights, Jeorge✌. Please, what’s going on with Tyreece John-Jules? Also, I noticed that Miguel Azeez hardly played while on loan at Wigan.