01 November 2023 , 18:50
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Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe has been ruled out of the Carabao Cup tie against West Ham after sustaining a new injury.
Smith Rowe has been working his way back to full fitness following a lengthy lay-off. The 23-year-old has made eight appearances for Mikel Arteta's side this season and chipped in with an assist in the 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United on Saturday in the Premier League.
Back in September he started his first Arsenal match in 499 days as the Gunners beat Brentford 1-0 in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. But he will be absent from the fourth-round tie at West Ham on Wednesday night due to injury.
Arsenal tweeted: "Emile Smith Rowe misses out on tonight's squad due to a knee issue." In his absence, Arteta has named a midfield of Jorginho, Kai Havertz and Fabio Vieira.
Smith Rowe previously underwent surgery on a groin injury, which had frustrated him. But since working his way back in the 2023/24 season, he has tried to change in his mental approach.
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He told The Guardian: “I have changed a bit of my mentality … just to go for it. I have not really got anything to lose. I have tried to change that inside me. I used to have a lot of doubts. I used to question my confidence, at times. But now I am really strong. I am feeling really fit and I am taking that into now.
Emile Smith Rowe has struggled with injuries at Arsenal (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)"The gaffer has really helped me with that. He was helping me through my injury and often pulled me for chats about how I can be mentally stronger. I tried to support the boys as much as I could when I couldn’t help them on the pitch. It was really tough but I am stronger now.”
Smith Rowe played just 195 minutes across 14 substitute appearances last season due to his injury problems. It has been a long time since he made his breakthrough at Arsenal with 10 goals and two assists in the Premier League in 2021/22.
The midfielder is yet to play a full match this season, having been substituted 74 minutes into the Sheffield United game. Speaking after his comeback start in the Carabao Cup, Arteta admitted: “Physically, he’s still not there to play 90 minutes".