Speaking after making his long awaited return from injury against Oxford United, Smith Rowe said: "I have been itching to get out there and play with the boys. I hope I can make an impact.
"It has been difficult being out for this long. I don’t think I have had this [long a lay-off] before and it has been tough watching. But at the same time we are top of the league and playing really well, so I can’t complain.
“A lot of people might not know, but I have had this injury since I was 18 or 19. It was the exact same pain from back then [at Leipzig in 2019]. I had a successful surgery & I am feeling really good. I am really happy that it is just finally over.
"I was pretty much with the them [the squad] after surgery. I was in all the meetings and stuff, trying to keep up with the knowledge and learning every day what he (Mikel Arteta) was trying to apply in training. The whole team was around me. The manager really helped me and obviously I had my family supporting me. So it was really tough, but I managed to get through it and I am just happy I’m fully fit now."
Smith Rowe made just four substitute appearance before picking up an injury that ruled him out of action for almost four months.
He is likely to get more minutes against Tottenham.
