Arsenal’s hopes have been dashed as Mikel Arteta confirmed that Emile Smith Rowe will be sidelined for “weeks” due to a knee injury. Smith Rowe was expected to feature in the Carabao Cup match against West Ham but was ruled out after sustaining the injury during a 5-0 victory over Sheffield United.
In Smith Rowe’s absence, Arsenal faced a disappointing 3-0 loss to West Ham in the Carabao Cup. A Ben White own goal put Arsenal behind, followed by second-half strikes from Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen, leading to their exit from the competition.
Speaking after the match, Arteta revealed the extent of Smith Rowe’s injury, stating, “He’s got an injury in his knee, and he’s going to be out for weeks.” This injury compounds Arsenal’s growing list of sidelined players, with Thomas Partey recovering from a thigh injury and Gabriel Jesus nursing a hamstring problem. Both are expected to be unavailable for weeks, although Arteta refrained from specifying a return date.
Despite these setbacks, Arsenal’s need for Smith Rowe’s return is evident, and the young midfielder’s absence will be keenly felt. As they prepare to face Newcastle on Saturday, the Gunners will have to navigate a challenging period with key players on the treatment table.
