Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed his disappointment regarding the situation of attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe, as quoted on the club’s official website.
Arteta has said that he is frustrated that Smith Rowe has not been playing for Arsenal due to ongoing injury and fitness problems.
The 22-year-old England international, who can also operate as a winger, has a groin problem at the moment.
The £42,000-a-week (SalarySport) creative player has made only four substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this season, playing just 48 minutes.
Smith Rowe made 21 starts and 12 substitute appearances in the Premier League for the Gunners last season.
The 22-year-old scored 10 goals and gave two assists in those matches.
Mikel Arteta on Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe
Arteta said about Smith Rowe’s fitness: “It’s been an ongoing issue that he’s had. He’s had some discomfort in the groin area, unfortunately.
“He hasn’t had any continuity this season and it’s something we are trying to assess and trying to help him as much as possible in any way that we can because we need him fit, we need him available and we need him performing at the best level, because he’s such an important player for us.
“Unfortunately, for this period and for periods last year, we haven’t had him.”
Important option
Arsenal are doing extremely well in the Premier League at the moment.
The Gunners are very much in the running for the UEFA Champions League places in the league table.
Arsenal are not really missing Smith Rowe much.
However, we cannot deny that the Hale End graduate is a huge talent, and that he would give Arteta a very good option in attack in the coming weeks and months.
Smith Rowe has scored 12 goals and created eight big chances in 59 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career.
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