Mikel Arteta has officially confirmed that Emile Smith Rowe is facing an extended period on the sidelines due to yet another unfortunate injury setback.
The 23-year-old recently earned his first Premier League start of the season in a commanding 5-0 victory against Sheffield United. It was a promising performance, but his return to action was short-lived, as he was slated to feature in the Carabao Cup round-of-16 clash against West Ham, only to be ruled out at the last minute.
As Arsenal prepared for their upcoming fixture against Newcastle, Arteta candidly revealed that Smith Rowe will be absent for several weeks due to a knee issue. This is a particularly cruel blow for the young talent, as he spent the majority of the previous season sidelined with a groin injury.
Arteta shared with reporters, "Nothing has changed. As I said previously, he will be out for weeks. The exact duration of his absence will be determined by his progress, especially in the initial few weeks. This setback is a significant setback for us because Smith Rowe was gaining momentum and playing a crucial role in the team."
Arsenal will be looking to put the defeat against West Ham behind them and defeat Newcastle as they look to continue to challenge for the league and also continue their unbeaten run in the league.