Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted the club is a “bit worried” over the latest injury setback suffered by attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe.
Smith Rowe was surprisingly omitted from the Gunners squad that lost to West Ham in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, only days after his first Premier League start of the season in the 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United last weekend.
The 23-year-old Englishman, who scored ten Premier League goals during a breakout campaign in 2021/22, missed several months of last season after requiring surgery to correct a groin issue. He returned to the fold in January but was eased back in very gradually, didn’t start any games and was more often than not an unused substitute as the Gunners fought in the title race.
It has been a similar story for Smith Rowe in the three months of 2023/24. He didn’t get off the bench in Arsenal’s first five league games, but has had game time in the Champions League and was building his minutes prior to starting for the visit of Sheffield United – the England international also played 82 minutes of a Carabao Cup win over Brentford back in September.
But, speaking about his absence altogether against West Ham, Arteta confirmed there is a problem.
“We have an issue with him,” the Arsenal boss told Sky Sports. “He felt something in his knee and started to feel some pain after the [Sheffield] game. We are assessing him but a bit worried with him.”
Sadly for Smith Rowe, Arsenal haven’t particularly missed his creativity so far this season – or indeed last season when the Gunners enjoyed their Premier League campaign since last winning the title in 2004. Arteta’s side have averaged 2.3 goals per game, outscoring reigning champions Manchester City and early leaders Tottenham Hotspur, with only Aston Villa and Newcastle United scoring more.
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