Arsenal youngster Emile Smith Rowe will miss the Gunners’ Europa League clash with Qarabag on Thursday night, and their Carabao Cup quarter-final with Tottenham next Wednesday.
The 18-year-old midfielder suffered a minor groin strain in training and did not join his teammates for a pre-match session at the Emirates, according to Goal.
It is believed that the England youth international will be out of action for a fortnight as he recovers fully.
Smith Rowe has yet to feature in the Premier League for Emery’s side so far this season, having been named on the bench three times, but has been a standout performer in Europe.
The prospect scored his first senior goals for his boyhood club in the competition, finding the net against both Qarabag and Vorskla Poltava.
Though it would be unlikely that he would have featured against Southampton in the league at the weekend, he could well have been included for the cup clash with Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
OPINION
Smith Rowe’s progression this season should have both Arsenal and England fans licking their lips. An intelligent, technical player, he has managed to carve out a place for himself in Unai Emery’s plans that allows him to get both regular game time and vital experience from senior players. Refreshingly, there appears to be very little pressure on the young man. Usually there is a tendency to overhype players who break into the first team at big clubs, but expectations of Smith Rowe seem to be fairly grounded. There is an acknowledgement that he could go to the very top, and has the pedigree to be a star, but his cameos for the Gunners are being well managed and are allowing him to grow and develop away from the bright lights of the Premier League. He has been exemplary in the Europa League this season, and could well have featured in the Carabao Cup next week in a match that promises to be well-contested by both sides. Thankfully, his injury seems to be short term, but it will come as a disappointment nonetheless.