Mikel Arteta responds to Emile Smith Rowe West Ham United speculation

After a breakthrough 2021-22 season in the Arsenal first team, where he came up with 10 Premier League goals in 33 matches, Smith Rowe has been demoted to a bit-part player under Arteta.

Injuries have severely harmed the 23-year-old's development, as he was restricted to just 14 appearances last season due to a groin operation and also spent a month out with a knee injury between November and December 2023.

When fully fit, though, Smith Rowe has still struggled to get a look-in over the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, playing just 12 times this season and setting up one goal for Eddie Nketiah in October's 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United.

That victory over the Blades represents Smith Rowe's only start in the 2023-24 Premier League season, and after failing to come off the bench against Fulham on New Year's Eve, he was only a late substitute against Liverpool in the Gunners' recent FA Cup defeat.

Smith Rowe remains a hugely popular figure at the Emirates, but his lack of minutes has naturally led to links with a move elsewhere in January, especially if he wants to catch Gareth Southgate's eye ahead of Euro 2024.

A recent report claimed that West Ham had been in touch to discuss signing Smith Rowe on loan for the rest of the season, and Arteta was questioned on such speculation in Friday's press conference ahead of Saturday's clash with Crystal Palace.

The Spaniard - who is generally loath to discuss transfer activity with the media - unsurprisingly had little to say on the matter, but he waxed lyrical about Smith Rowe's training performances and insisted that he has noticed "no change" in his behaviour.

"I'm really happy with Emile, he's on the right trajectory now, he's settled and he's training really well. You know that I'm not going to talk about any individual situation," Arteta said.

"No change, Emile is Emile. He's got incredible qualities, we are really happy to have him and what he needs now is chances to put all those desired qualities on the pitch. In order to do that, we have to give him minutes."

West Ham have been plunged into an attacking absentee crisis in January, as Lucas Paqueta could miss the next two months with a calf injury, while Mohammed Kudus is representing Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations.

In addition, Jarrod Bowen (ankle) is not guaranteed to return for Sunday's trip to Sheffield United, where Michail Antonio and Said Benrahma - starting a three-game ban for his red card against Bristol City in the FA Cup - will definitely miss out.

Smith Rowe should therefore receive ample opportunities for starts in David Moyes's side, but he is believed to have no interest in leaving Arsenal and remains determined to win his place back in Arteta's XI.

The England international has been on the books at Arsenal for 14 years and has amassed 18 goals and 12 assists in 108 matches for the club since graduating from their Hale End system.

Smith Rowe is under contract at Arsenal until 2026 and is expected to be involved in Saturday lunchtime's clash with Palace, where a win by any margin would take the Gunners back above Aston Villa into third place in the Premier League table on goal difference.