Mikel Arteta comments on Emile Smith Rowe, VAR after West Ham defeat
The England international has endured a torrid time with physical woes since his breakthrough 2021-22 campaign, missing a good chunk of last term following groin surgery as the Gunners engaged in a captivating two-horse title race with Manchester City.
Smith Rowe has only been a bit-part player for the Gunners since returning to fitness, largely due to the form of Gabriel Martinelli, but he made his first Premier League start for his boyhood club since May 2022 in the weekend's 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United.
The 23-year-old would have been expected to earn more minutes at the London Stadium on Wednesday, but he was a notable absentee from the team sheet, and Arsenal subsequently revealed that he was missing due to a knee problem.
Without Smith Rowe, Arsenal slumped to a 3-1 defeat to their capital rivals as they bowed out of the EFL Cup — a competition they have not won since 1993 — and Arteta was quizzed on the midfielder's condition after the game.
The Spaniard did not have any positive news to share, confirming that Smith Rowe would join Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus on the sidelines for a while.
When asked if there was a timeframe for Smith Rowe's comeback, Arteta replied: «No. He's got an injury in his knee and he's going to be out for weeks,» as quoted by football.london.
Arsenal's possession dominance against West Ham counted for nought in the first half, as Ben White headed into his own net from a Jarrod Bowen corner, although Aaron Ramsdale felt that he was being illegally impeded by Toma
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