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‘A big blow’: Mikel Arteta confirms Emile Smith Rowe is ruled out of Newcastle game

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Emile Smith Rowe won’t be available for tomorrow’s Premier League game at Newcastle United with a knee injury.

The Gunners graduate picked up the setback earlier this week and he subsequently missed the London derby against West Ham United in the Carabao Cup fourth round.

Speaking after the game, Arteta revealed that Smith Rowe will be out for weeks with a knee problem and he has reiterated the same ahead of Saturday’s trip to Tyneside.

He told Arsenal.com: “Nothing has changed, as I said I think he will be out for weeks. How many will determine in relation to how he progresses in the first few weeks especially.”

“It’s a big blow because he was getting some momentum and some minutes and we’d started to get the Emile that we needed, but unfortunately he’s going to be out again.”

Smith Rowe suffers unfortunate injury blow

Smith Rowe played just 195 minutes in all competitions last season. He missed several months due to a groin surgery and struggled to break into the starting line-up.

The 23-year-old has already played more minutes (230) in the current season, but he has now suffered a setback which could rule him out for a number of weeks.

Smith Rowe will be deeply disappointed by the setback, considering the manager recently handed him his first Premier League start since the 2021/22 campaign.

Regardless of his absence, club captain Martin Odegaard should be fancied to start from the number 10 role when the Gunners face the Magpies on the road tomorrow.

The Norwegian has been nursing a minor injury which was the reason behind his lack of game time over the last two games. He played just 10 minutes in midweek, but scored a consolation goal.

Aside from Smith Rowe, Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber are currently injured.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

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