Emile Smith Rowe completed what was very much a season of two halves last time out, with the Arsenal academy graduate starting in stellar fashion before tailing off at the turn of the year.
The playmaker sent a message to the Gunners fanbase that he was ready to be the main-man with his shirt number selection before a ball had been kicked last summer. After penning a new long-term deal with the club, Smith Rowe asked manager Mikel Arteta if he could don the number 10 shirt.
A shirt previously worn by club icons like Paul Merson, Dennis Bergkamp and Mesut Ozil - Smith Rowe was choosing to take on quite the responsibility. With that number comes huge expectations, something Arteta made clear at the time.
