Emile Smith Rowe is back in light training outside for Arsenal, but he’s unavailable for Saturday’s game against Brentford as previously reported.

Emile Smith Rowe in training with Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)
Emile Smith Rowe in training with Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)

Reports from earlier this week suggested that Emile Smith Rowe is not expected to be fit to face Brentford this weekend, after missing Arsenal’s last couple of games with a groin problem.

Mikel Arteta then confirmed as much in his press conference on Friday, but there was a positive update too.

Whilst Smith Rowe isn’t yet available to return to action, the midfielder is in light training again, along with Reiss Nelson and Gabriel Jesus.

“The ones that were long-term – like Emile, Reiss, and Gabriel Jesus – they are closer and they’ve started to do some activities and have been outside,” Arteta said. “But they are not ready yet to be considered.”

Elsewhere on the injury front, Mohamed Elneny is out for the season with his knee injury.

Arsenal's English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe (L) and Arsenal's French defender William Saliba celebrate after winning at the end of the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on August 20, 2022. - Arsenal won 3 - 0 against Bournemouth. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s English midfielder Emile Smith Rowe (L) and Arsenal’s French defender William Saliba celebrate after winning at the end of the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, southern England on August 20, 2022. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

Nelson and Smith Rowe’s returns will be a boost for the squad, giving Arteta options to change things on both flanks.

Arteta has been reliant on Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka in the absence of natural wide alternatives this season, but with the addition of Leandro Trossard and the injury comebacks of Nelson and Smith Rowe, that should change.

Whilst Arsenal have only had to deal with one game a week for the last month or so, the return of the Europa League and the rescheduling of some postponed fixtures mean things are about to get a lot busier now.