Mikel Arteta has given the latest on Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard, and Gabriel Jesus ahead of Arsenal’s match against Newcastle United this weekend.
Arsenal have had a few key injury absentees in recent games, and Emile Smith Rowe was the latest to be ruled out ahead of the midweek game against West Ham United.
Mikel Arteta said after the match that he expected Smith Rowe to miss weeks of action with his knee injury, and he confirmed the same information in his press conference ahead of Saturday’s match against Newcastle United.
“Nothing has changed, as I said I think he will be out for weeks,” Arteta confirmed.
“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.”
Though Martin Odegaard hasn’t missed out on a single Arsenal squad this season, the midfielder was dropped to the bench against Sheffield United and West Ham United.
Arteta explained that this was due to a minor knock the Gunners captain had been carrying, but the Norwegian’s impressive cameo against West Ham suggests he’s back on track.
“We have tried to offload him a little bit because he had a little issue that he was grumbling with,” Arteta explained.
“He felt much better in the last few days, and we gave a few minutes against West Ham which was good to see, and his contribution was really good.
“He will train today and if he’s fine he will be ready.”
There was bad news on the injury front for Gabriel Jesus earlier this week, with one report suggesting the striker might not play again until December.
When asked whether Jesus could return earlier than that, following the November international break, Arteta wouldn’t make any promises.
“I cannot guarantee that,” Arteta admitted. “We are trying to get his recovery done as quickly as possible.
“I said that it will be weeks, but it’s very difficult to put a timeframe on it right now.”
Elsewhere in the squad, Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber are both set to miss the Newcastle match with their long-term injury issues.