Arsenal will be without Emile Smith Rowe ahead of this weekend’s north London derby in what is a gutting blow to manager Mikel Arteta…
What’s the latest?
The club announced on Thursday that the young attacking midfielder has undergone surgery to resolve a long-standing groin problem that has been affecting him for several months.
It’s thought that the 22-year-old, who was recently capped by England, will return to full-time training in December and that the process to repair a damaged tendon has gone smoothly.
Smith Rowe has featured just four times, totalling 47 minutes, in the Premier League this campaign and now the reasons behind his lack of starts and subsequent game time have finally been revealed.
Do you miss Emile Smith Rowe?
A big blow to Arteta
Whilst the Hale End graduate has barely featured for the Gunners during their electric start to the 2022/23 campaign but when fully fit, he is arguably one of the first names on the team sheet.
Across 37 appearances in all competitions last term, the Croydon-born gem provided 11 goals and two assists and did so by playing in a multitude of positions, as per Transfermarkt, thus highlighting his importance to Arteta and the team.
Indeed, only Bukayo Saka scored more times for the north Londoners in the Premier League and he ranks in the top 6% of all attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe for pass completion (84.1% per 90).
During that campaign, Smith Rowe – who has been aptly dubbed ‘the Croydon [Kevin] De Bruyne’ – also scored against their arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur, describing the moment as the “best day of my life” to Sky Sports (via The Sun).
“I’ve dreamed of this day to score against Tottenham. With my family here as well, it’s the best feeling ever. I’ve been working a lot in training on my finishing and I am really happy with the goal.”
Both he and Arteta would have loved to continue that form against Spurs this weekend but unfortunately, they’ll have to wait until later in the season.
On the above evidence, it’s easy to see why Smith Rowe’s absence would be a big blow to the Spaniard ahead of kick-off.
AND in other news, 2011 decision on 154 G/A “difference-maker” was Wenger’s biggest failure at Arsenal…
