Arteta explains Smith Rowe's lack of game time and reveals what he must 'prove'

The Gunners attacking midfielder is yet to start a single match this season in any competition having been plagued by injuries.

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Smith Rowe required groin surgery in September which ruled him out until after the World Cup, before he picked up a thigh problem in January.

And the 22-year-old, who scored ten Premier League goals last campaign, has found himself behind Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Reiss Nelson in the pecking order since returning to action.

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Arteta was asked about whether the England international remains a part of his plans in his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday's Europa League Round of 16 second leg tie at the Emirates.

The Spaniard said: "He knows how much we love him, and we know how much we missed him and how much we need his qualities.

"And now he needs to prove it, he needs to prove how much he wants to win, and how much he's going to contribute to this team to be better and win.

"And he's going to have to show that to get in the team.

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"I think we have to manage his load, but for sure he's in a position where we can throw him in the team at any moment.

"And then it's about how he's coping with the team in general and whether we have to take him off or to use him in the last few minutes of the game."

Arteta also stressed he has to handle the return of Gabriel Jesus, who featured for the first time in 2023 in Sunday's 3-0 win away at Fulham.

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Jesus has now fully recovered from his knee injury which he picked up on international duty for Brazil in Qatar, and he could start against Sporting in north London.

Commenting on the 25-year-old, Arteta remarked: "It was great to see him back and you can feel the happiness of everybody around him - supporters, players and staff.

"Finally to have him, we missed him, and now he's back. We have to manage his minutes, we have to manage his involvement in the squad, the team, but he's feeling good.

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"And every day that he's in training he is saying that the sensations are getting better and better, so that's really positive."

But Arteta has revealed that Eddie Nketiah remains unavailable due to his ankle injury, with the striker to not be in contention to play until after the upcoming international break.

He stated: "It's getting better. He's still in the boot. He's still a few weeks away and we need to be patient.

"It was a nasty injury and he has a big challenge ahead of him. But thank God, it could have been worse, so he's not in a bad place."

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