Arsenal's nail-biting Premier League title race with Manchester City looks set to go the distance this season. The Gunners currently sit two points clear of the current holders with 14 games remaining and are on course to win their first league title in 19 years.
Mikel Arteta has, so far, remained calm and composed when faced with questions regarding the battle with Pep Guardiola. The north Londoners have struck gold this campaign and have undergone a tremendous turnaround from May.
Victory on Wednesday evening against Everton will stretch their lead to five points and put the Gunners in pole position to go the distance in the final three months of the campaign. But, Arteta could be greeted with a much-needed boost in their title pursuit.
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Emile Smith Rowe has had a frustrating season so far, with injury limiting his minutes on the pitch. Since August, the 22-year-old has appeared for only 62 minutes in all competitions, with surgery at the end of September keeping him out of action until the new year.
The winger made a return in the FA Cup in early January but suffered yet another setback in his recovery with a thigh strain. Earlier this month, Arteta confirmed that he had returned to light training but he is yet to return to the Gunners squad.
In his absence, Leandro Trossard has impressed. The 28-year-old signed from Brighton for £21million in January and has played a key role in recent wins over Aston Villa and Leicester City. However, compared to City, Arsenal remain low on numbers.
But, with 14 cup finals on the horizon, Arsenal could be set to welcome Smith Rowe back to the frame. The Hale Ender started for the Under-21s on Monday night against Chelsea - alongside Jakub Kiwior - and showed a number of promising signs in building his fitness.
Having Smith Rowe back and available for selection will provide Arteta with a welcomed selection headache. Previously, the Arsenal boss hinted at the possibility of Smith Rowe taking up a role in midfield to ease the workload on workhorse Granit Xhaka.
"Certainly we looked at that and how many times he is arriving in the box, and the moment he is arriving in the box.
"The kind of delivery he gets when he is in those positions. He could have had much better service on many occasions when he was in those positions. But certainly to maintain our level we need goals from midfield and that is a big target for us."
Asked if Smith Rowe can play in Xhaka's position instead of the left wing, a position he made his own last season, Arteta said: "He can do a bit of both, depending on the game plan and the couples and the units that we use in that left side. If you ask me where I see Emile really contributing at his best, for me it is in that attacking midfield position."
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