Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe made a surprise visit to a nine-year-old fan after she held up a sign at a match saying: "Can I have your shirt please?"
Isabelle Clark had a "dream" visit from her favourite Gunners player at her home after Smith Rowe saw her sign following Arsenal's 4-2 win over Leicester City earlier this month. The schoolgirl from East Tilbury, Essex, went to the match against the Foxes with a handmade sign saying, “Smith Rowe is the best number 10 after me! Can I have your shirt please?”.
And after seeing a photo of Isabelle and her sign on social media, Smith Rowe reached out to her mum Kelly Clark to arrange a visit to surprise Isabelle at her home. The Gunners midfielder then left Isabelle stunned when he visited on Monday (22 August) to give her a signed shirt.
Kelly said: "Originally Isabelle thought the shirt was being sent to her so she had been running to the door every time the post had been. When he arrived I told Isabelle the postman was at the door so she went running!
"She actually couldn’t believe her eyes, went straight in for the hug and was completely speechless. He's always been her favourite player and now his given her a day she will never forget.''
Isabelle, who has been playing in football teams since the age of five and hopes to play for Arsenal and England someday, said: "It was the best day of my life!"
Kelly added: "He was the nicest most genuine man, he came in and asked about Isabelle’s football he signed a few things for her and her brother he stayed for over an hour!"
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Smith Rowe has established himself as a key player for the Gunners over the past 12 months after stints out on loan. And after the heartbreak of missing out on the top-four last term, the 22-year-old has already outlined his determination to go one better.
Speaking ahead of the launch of Arsenal: All or Nothing earlier this month, the midfielder, who has missed the opening weeks of the new season through injury, said: "I try not to think about the pressure.
"We've got a young team, a young manager. Last season was a good season despite the bad ending, but we're always looking forward. And [ Mikel Arteta ] gave us so much confidence. It's good for us to keep working hard and keep pushing each other. I've got all these other players around me, helping me all the time, so it's just good to have my teammates around me."
