Injuries have prevented the 22-year-old making a first-team start this season

Emile Smith Rowe made his return to action on Monday night as he started for the Arsenal Under-21s against Chelsea.

It’s an incredibly frustrating season for the 22-year-old, who has had just 63 minutes of first-team action and is yet to make a start for Mikel Arteta’s side this campaign.

Groin surgery in September kept Smith Rowe out until January, when he made his return off the bench in the FA Cup against Oxford. A thigh injury has kept him out for another six weeks though, with Leandro Trossard providing the only real depth in forward options.

However, Smith Rowe started for the U21 side against Chelsea, coming off at half-time as the Gunners went on to lose the match 1-0.

Arteta will be hoping the Smith Rowe will soon be ready to return to the first team and make up for lost time, providing another option in forward areas as well as potentially in midfield.

Jakub Kiwior also started for the Gunners at Kingsmeadow, with the January signing looking to make an impression. The 23-year-old arrived for a fee in the region of £20million last month, but is still waiting to make his Arsenal debut.

The Gunners have six matches before the international break at the end of March. Two of those come in the Europa League against Sporting, with both Smith Rowe and Kiwior potentially featuring in those games.

Arsenal ‘monitoring Raheem Sterling’s situation at Chelsea with Mikel Arteta interested in a reunion as club prepares for return to Champions League football’

Arsenal are reportedly keeping an eye on Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling with Mikel Arteta a fan of the player from their time together at Manchester City.

The high-flying Gunners know they will need to bolster their squad in the summer as they prepare to make their long-awaited return to the Champions League.

And 90min claim Sterling is on their radar with Arteta interested in a reunion.

Sterling and Arteta worked together for a number of years while the Spaniard was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City.

His ability to play across the front three is one of the biggest factors in any potential move.

Sterling is believed to be content at Chelsea but the blues will no doubt have to let some players go at the end of the season after their recent big sending.

The 28-year-old joined Chelsea from City in a deal worth £50m in the summer.

He has contributed six goals and three assists in 25 appearances during his debut campaing.

Injuries have been an issue since the World Cup but he has recently returned to full fitness.

Sterling has spoken openly of his respect for Arteta in the past and has praised his former coach for the impact he has made at Arsenal.

‘I knew once he went into Arsenal that it would be a great opportunity for him but also he would definitely implement what he wanted to bring in,’ Sterling said in October 2020. ‘And he’s a person that will put his foot down and not let things slide as you can see with the boys at Arsenal. They know if they don’t run they are most likely not going to play.

‘We all knew before Mikel got in how much good football they could play, how technically good they were but probably off the field they weren’t as aggressive as they are with Mikel.

‘They run their socks off now, you can see why they benefited with some good results recently.’

SOURCE: standard, dailymail