Emile Smith Rowe will not be in the squad for Arsenal's Premier League clash with Newcastle on Tuesday evening football.london understands. The 22-year-old has been missing from action since having surgery on a groin injury in September.
He returned to training at London Colney in December, but suffered a setback before the return of Premier League football on Boxing Day that saw him miss a few sessions. Since then he has made positive strides and there is hope that he could make his return to full training in the next couple of weeks.
However, Tuesday night's clash at the Emirates Stadium will be too soon for the England international. This leaves Mikel Arteta with a thin squad in the forward areas amid injuries to Reiss Nelson and Gabriel Jesus.
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Having been out for so long Smith Rowe is likely to need some time to acclimatise back to Arteta's demands. “He’s been out for a while now – he needs some time to get back to speed," the Spaniard told reporters last month. “We really need him and we’re going to welcome him with both arms, because he’s a really important player for us. We need him fit on the pitch.”
While Smith Rowe has been out it is understood that Arsenal have been trying several different strategies to ensure that his morale remains high. This is thought to include exposing the 22-year-old to other sporting environments and people who can inspire him and offer him perspective on his situation.
In Smith Rowe's absence Arsenal have gone on to open up a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League. With a first title since 2004 potentially on offer the Gunners are keen to strengthen in the January transfer window, particularly in the forward areas. Mykhaylo Mudryk is thought to be their main target and football.london understands that Edu submitted a second bid for the Ukrainian winger on Monday.
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