Man City

Chelsea

Aston Villa

Bournemouth

Liverpool

Brighton

Newcastle

Tottenham

Fulham

Wolverhampton

West Ham

Sheffield United

Nottingham

Burnley

Arsenal

Regular Season

Man United

Crystal Palace

Brentford

Everton

Luton Town

English Premier League

Mikel Arteta sends message to Emile Smith Rowe as midfielder finally returns from injury

Metro

"Obviously it's been four months since he played so I think it was the perfect game to give him some minutes to get out of the blocks.

"Now he needs to start to be available and to start to play at the highest level because we're going to need him."

Smith Rowe made his first appearance since September on Monday, coming off the bench in the second half of the 3–0 win against Oxford in the 

The 22-year-old's return comes at a perfect time for 

'The whole team was around me': Smith Rowe credits Arsenal teammates and Mikel Arteta with helping him to deal with injury

 really helped me and obviously, I had my family back home supporting me.

"So it was really tough, but I managed to get through it and I'm just happy I'm fully fit now. It's really good to be back on the pitch with my teammates. It's been difficult being out for this long.

"I don't think I've had this [long a lay-off] before — but at the same time, we are top of the league and playing really well, so I can't complain! I am just going to kick on from here."

Smith Rowe made his first appearance for 

 since September on Monday, coming off as a second-half substitute in the 3–0 win over 

The 22-year-old's will be welcomed by Arteta as the Gunners enter a crucial period of their 2022/23 campaign, looking to compete both 

Arteta issues challenge to Smith Rowe as he returns from injury

] knows that he has the space in the squad to fulfil his potential," explained 

 while discussing the 22-year-old's return from a long-term injury. 

"We really like him, I really like him, and he is a very important player for us.

"He knows that now he needs to jump on the train fast enough to have the impact that we all hope that he can have this season.

"He can play as a left attacking midfielder, on the right, he can play off the left as well. Those qualities within those units on the outside is something that he compliments really well with. We will exploit that." 

 boss acknowledged how hard it might have been for Smith Rowe to be sidelined for so long. Arteta added: "I think you have periods when it is a long injury like the one he had and there is a surgery in between,. 

"We have tried to be really close to him, to give him advice. He has been in different places as well.

"He has been really good. We have talked about his moods, his energy and how much he has to be living with the team in this period and he has been really good." 

Smith Rowe could feature for Arsenal in the games ahead but it remains to be seen if he gets a few minutes against 

0_UA_Postscript_News

0_UA_Inread

Smith Rowe will come back fitter stronger and faster with all his goal scoring qualities.  Welcome back Emile.

Kevin Alan Parlour

EMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiLe 💪💯💪💯💪

Stephen Lim

Tokunbo Effiong

he was carrying that injury in his groin for a very long time he's had problems there since 18yrs old I think he said so I'm glad it's sorted now.lets just hope he soon gets back to his own self again and does what we know he can.we need him now more than ever.and I know he can do it and shine.

Player		G
Erling Haaland	Man City	20
Cole Palmer	Chelsea	20
Ollie Watkins	Aston Villa	19
Dominic Solanke	Bournemouth	18
Mohamed Salah	Liverpool	17

Mikel Arteta sends message to Emile Smith Rowe as midfielder finally returns from injury

Latest news