Arsenal provide Emile Smith Rowe injury update ahead of Olympiacos

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided the latest injury update on Emile Smith Rowe ahead of Thursday’s vital Europa League last 16 first leg clash with Olympiacos at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.

The 20-year-old has been a key cog in the mini-revival under Mikel Arteta since Boxing Day, assuming the creative mantle in the No. 10 role that has sparked an upturn in form.

Still, as Arteta put it, ‘far, far away’ from being anything close to the finished article, performances have improved drastically although the issues of ruthlessness, individual mistakes and being consistently inconsistent remain.

Knowing the workload bestowed upon Emile Smith Rowe was too much for a player of his experience and injury record to bear, Martin Odegaard was brought in on loan during the January transfer window, a decision that was vindicated even before events against Leicester.

Arsenal provide Emile Smith Rowe injury update ahead of Olympiacos Europa League clash

Smith Rowe was forced to come off in the first half of the 3-1 victory after sustaining a muscle injury, one that kept him out of the recent 1-1 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor.

Odegaard took up his slot at No. 10, and building up to a make-or-break clash with Olympiacos, Arteta has revealed the latest on Smith Rowe’s fitness.

"“He is close to returning,” Arteta said in his pre-match press conference. “He is going to have a full session today to see if he is going to be involved [against Olympiacos]. After training, we will know where we are with him.”"

In the previous round of the competition, Arteta opted to field both Odegaard and Smith Rowe in the side with an eye on boosting the number of technical operators behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

There were positives to the approach as it allowed Aubameyang to focus his attentions on being the low-touch striker he is, but equal deficiencies as Benfica’s low-block slowed the pace of the game down considerably.

Arteta will have the option to test the same personnel out again against the Greek champions, or field the in-form Nicolas Pepe who was the Gunners’ most dangerous outlet in the final stages of the Turf Moor meeting.

It will be interesting to see whether Arteta’s revert to his system from the last round or heeds caution with Smith Rowe’s fitness as just three days later Tottenham head to the Emirates.