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Mikel Arteta has admitted being ‘worried’ by the knee injury that forced Emile Smith Rowe to miss Arsenal’s 3-1 loss in the Carabao Cup against West Ham on Wednesday night.
The midfielder made his first Premier League start of the season on Saturday as the Gunners thrashed Sheffield United 5-0, but was not in the squad for the clash against the Hammers.
Speaking ahead of kick-off, Arteta revealed Smith Rowe had suffered a knee injury.
‘He felt something in his knee and started to feel some pain after the game.
Mikel Arteta has admitted being ‘worried’ by the knee injury picked up by Emile Smith Rowe
The midfielder missed Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat to West Ham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday
‘We are assessing him but a bit worried with him.’
Smith Rowe’s knee problem looks set to exacerbate a growing injury crisis at the Emirates, with Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey both set for a spell on the sidelines.
The Brazilian forward – who missed the first three game of the season with a knee problem – limped off during Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Sevilla in the Champions League last Tuesday.
Jesus felt a tweak in his hamstring at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium after he had scored and provided a brilliant assist for compatriot Gabriel Martinelli.
Subsequent scans ruled him out of of the games against Sheffield United and West Ham, but Arteta refused to put a timeline on his return.
‘With him [Jesus], I’m honestly not going to give [a timeframe],’ the Gunners boss said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to West Ham.
‘I did it once and got it totally wrong. We need to be cautious because we need to treat it in the right way.
‘He’s already pushing everybody and wants to be back as quickly as possible, and we need him, so that’s great.’
Arteta has refused to put a timeline on Gabriel Jesus’ return after the Brazilian striker suffered a hamstring injury against Sevilla last week
Arsenal are also without midfielder Thomas Partey, who could be out until December
Meanwhile, Arteta also conceded Partey’s fitness was a ‘big concern’ after reports claimed the midfielder could be out until December.
The Ghanaian’s last appearance for the Gunners came as a substitute in the 1-0 win over Manchester City earlier this month. He suffered a setback in training last week ahead of Arsenal’s victory away at Sevilla in the Champions League.
‘I think that he will be out for weeks,’ Arteta said of Partey’s latest injury.
‘It is a big concern because, when Thomas is fit and available and he’s been part of the team, we have seen what the results and the impact that he has on the team.’
