Emile Smith Rowe is on course to be available for selection when Arsenal face Leicester City on Sunday afternoon.
The 21-year-old has missed recent wins over Wolves and Brentford through illness and a positive Covid test respectively, but Mikel Arteta has since revealed the latest team news and it's looking good for the Gunners' leading scorer this season.
"Not many changes," the Arsenal manager said during his pre-match press conference. "[Takehiro] Tomiyasu we’re still assessing him because we’re taking some time to try to protect him and get him in the best and safest possible way.
"Emile looks like he’s going to be available."
Despite an impressive first full season as a senior Arsenal player, Smith Rowe has suffered a few setbacks in recent months as he's made a matchday squad for four games across all competitions this year alone.
Furthermore, he's started just three times in 2022 as Arteta looks to manage his fitness.
But ahead of a defining week for the north London outfit - as they face Leicester, Liverpool and Aston Villa before the March international break - Smith Rowe has been challenged to ensure he stays healthy for the remainder of the season.
"Well, he went through COVID," Arteta added.
"He's feeling good now, he’s had a couple of training sessions and hopefully he can get the rhythm, the consistency and stay out of missing because he’s a really important player for us and we need him."
Given how important Smith Rowe has been for Arsenal this season, does this mean he's in line for an immediate recall to the starting line-up for the visit of the Foxes?
Well, judging by the way Arteta has managed the England international since the beginning of December, it's likely the attacking midfielder will have to settle for a role amongst the substitutes.
After being troubled with a groin problem following the 3-2 loss against Manchester United, Smith Rowe missed the defeat at Everton a few days later before being an unused substitute against Southampton.
And from there Arteta has been extremely careful with the Gunners No.10.
With that said, the form of Gabriel Martinelli out wide and Martin Odegaard as the main creative source either behind the striker or in central midfield has made it easier for the Arsenal manager to avoid taking any risks with Smith Rowe.
In fact, when Arteta has had a full complement of midfielders as well as Martinelli available for selection for Premier League games since mid-December, it's often Martinelli that gets the nod over Smith Rowe.
This was the case against Southampton, West Ham United, Leeds United, Norwich City, Manchester City and Wolves.
Interestingly, this has proven to be a successful formula for Arsenal, with five wins out of six from those aforementioned fixtures which should give Arteta even more confidence to not rush Smith Rowe back.
