Arsenal provide vital Smith Rowe & Martinelli injury updates

Arsenal are hoping the rest of December runs smoother than how it’s started as they prepare to host Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

With zero points from their two matches so far, the festive period has kicked off about as poorly as it could have. Consecutive defeats to Manchester United and Everton have drastically altered the mood.

Mikel Arteta has come under considerable scrutiny for his game management since the most recent international break, with selections and decisions on personnel seen as one of the reasons  behind the team’s struggles.

Front and centre of that, however, has been the meek and lifeless attacking football on show. Scoring three goals from open play in their last two matches away from home may be seen as an improvement, but those numbers don’t tell the whole story.

Arsenal provide vital Emile Smith Rowe & Gabriel Martinelli injury updates ahead of Premier League meeting with Southampton

The 2-1 loss at Goodison Park was a fine example of how Arsenal struggle for invention, or indeed freedom, beyond the halfway line. It was a match where Emile Smith Rowe was sorely missed. It says a lot about a team reliant on someone who was playing Under-23 football a year ago.

Arsenal needed someone to get on the ball a bit deeper, drive with possession, receive on the half-turn and burst through the lines. Missing with a groin strain for that one, a club statement revealed that a final assessment will be made ahead of kick-off against the Saints.

"It read: “Right groin. Emile sustained a groin issue during the match against Manchester United last week and is being assessed ahead of Saturday’s match.”"

As for Gabriel Martinelli, he was forced off at Goodison Park with what Arteta listed at the time as a hamstring problem, one he ‘wasn’t positive’ about.

That initial concern has been quelled, thankfully, with Arsenal confirming that the issue was not as bad as first feared and he is available for selection.

"“Gabi was substituted during the match against Everton on Monday. He has been fully assessed since and is fit and available for selection for Saturday’s match."

It comes as huge relief to Arsenal, but equally to Martinelli, who had started back-to-back matches in the Premier League and had done more than enough to keep earning minutes across the hectic schedule.

It was felt that a door could open for Nicolas Pepe, who has fallen so far down the pecking order that Arteta may as well put a for sale sign in front of his locker. With just five minutes of football across the last seven matches, if there was ever an opportunity to turn things around for the clearly talented Ivorian, it would have been if either of the two weren’t available.

His wait for minutes looks set to extend.