Using totals and symbols
The cells in the diagram can each be assigned a letter. Since the row and column both sum to $21$, this gives the equations:
$a+b+x+c = 21$
$d+x+e+f = 21$
Then, the letters $a$, $b$, $c$, $d$, $e$, $f$ and $x$ are, in some order, $2$, $3$, $4$, $5$, $6$, $7$ and $8$. This means that their sums must be the same, so;$$a+b+c+d+e+f+x = 2+3+4+5+6+7+8 = 35.$$ Then, if the equations at the top are added together, these give:$$a+b+c+d+e+f+2x=42.$$But then, subtracting the previous equation from this one gives $x = 7$, as all the other terms cancel out.
This value of $x$ can be achieved as shown in the diagram on the right.