Emile Smith Rowe, as expected, was in attendance for Arsenal's Boxing Day win over West Ham United.
Unfortunately for the attacking midfielder, it was once again watching brief as he looked on from the sidelines as second half goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah saw the Gunners come from behind to open up a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Despite returning to training and being part of the squad that travelled to Dubai earlier in the month, Smith Rowe is still not quite ready to be available for selection for Arsenal after undergoing surgery at the end of September in a bid to overcome a troublesome groin injury.
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"Emile is close. He had a setback but he’s there and he’s in a good place," Mikel Arteta revealed in his pre-West Ham press conference. "We've done a lot of things with Emile. Sometimes he has been close, sometimes he has been in different places to see a different environment.
"His attitude has been great and this is part of any career, any development to have periods where you are out and have long-term injuries. He needs to react to that but for sure he has got all of our support and he is a huge talent that we need for the second part of the season at his best because his contribution will be key to the team."
Whilst Smith Rowe wasn't able to make the Arsenal squad for the London derby, the 22-year-old was present at the Emirates to cheer on his teammates from behind the bench which is no surprise after he explained this has been his routine for home matches during the period on the sidelines.
"Yeah I go to all the home games and I support the boys," Smith Rowe revealed in the club's latest 'Colney Carpool' edition hosted by Frimpon. "Away games are quite tough. It'd be fun to sit with the away fans, it would be scenes to be fair but I'm here [London Colney] working on the days we have games."
As per Arsenal's 'Bench Cam' video which has been uploaded to the club's official website and YouTube channel, Smith Rowe was spotted walking out ahead of Arteta and assistant coach Steve Round before locating his seat to watch his teammates secure a fourth successive Premier League win either side of the World Cup break.
Smith Rowe wasn't the only absent first-team player in attendance for the Boxing Day clash as Bukayo Saka revealed the vital role Gabriel Jesus played in the dressing room: "Today Jesus wasn't even on the pitch but we can still feel his presence," the winger said. "He was speaking to me in the dressing room and the other boys, which is so important."
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