Arsenal starlet Emile Smith Rowe has admitted he is desperate to get back into Mikel Arteta's starting XI as soon as possible.
The Hale End academy graduate was one of the Gunners' best players last season, finishing as the club's second-top goalscorer in the Premier League. However, his 2022/23 campaign has been plagued by injuries.
He underwent surgery on an ongoing groin issue back in September and has struggled for fitness since, sustaining a minor thigh strain in January just as he was beginning to get some much-needed game time. Earlier this month, Arsenal boss Arteta urged the 22-year-old to show his desire to get back into the rotation for the final stretch of the season, with the north Londoners currently sitting pretty at the top of the table with just 10 league games to go.
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"He knows how much we love him and how much we missed him and how much we need his qualities," Arteta said when asked about Smith Rowe. "Now he needs to prove it, how much he wants to win and how much he’s going to contribute to this team to be better and to win, he’s going to have to show that to get into the team."
The talented playmaker then played 66 minutes on Saturday evening as England's Under-21 side defeated France 4-0 and Smith Rowe broke the deadlock in the second half, making one of his trademark runs into the box before finishing with a deft header. Now, he has spoken about his willingness to play more minutes at club level whilst also opening up on his aforementioned groin issue.
"I’m really desperate to be honest," he said. "The team are doing really well and it’s obviously something I want to be a part of. I’m working hard every day. Coming away with England is minutes that I really need. I’ve been struggling with this injury since I was 18 or 19, just before I went on loan to RB Leipzig.
"I was quite low at the beginning. I’ve never had surgery before. It’s been tough, but I’m glad it’s all sorted now. I don’t feel any pain. I just need to kick on."
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