Smith Rowe hopes to 'kick on' after surgery on groin injury

‘I am happy it is finally over’: Emile Smith Rowe opens up on groin injury that has plagued him for FOUR years… with the Arsenal star hoping to ‘kick on’ after returning in time to boost their title push following surgery

  • Emile Smith Rowe made his appearance in four months in win over Oxford 
  • The Arsenal star had surgery in September on a groin injury that has plagued him
  • Smith Rowe says he feels ‘fully fit’ for the first time in a while after the surgery 
  • The 22-year-old had been struggling with the issue for around four years
  • His return comes at a good time to boost Arsenal in their push for the title 

Emile Smith Rowe has detailed how a groin injury plagued him for around four years before surgery finally healed the problem in time for Arsenal’s title charge.

Smith Rowe made his first appearance in four months in Monday’s FA Cup victory over Oxford United, replacing Bukayo Saka for the final 15 minutes.

The forward had struggled with growing pains, that caused discomfort in his groin when striking the ball, all the way back to 2019 when he was on loan at RB Leipzig.

Emile Smith Rowe made his Arsenal return as a substitute in the FA Cup win over Oxford

The Arsenal star underwent surgery in September for a groin injury that has plagued him

He eventually went under the knife in September and now feels ‘fully fit’ for the first time in a while.

‘A lot of people might not know, but I have had this injury since I was 18, 19. It has been quite hard to deal with it over the years. But I am really happy that it is just finally over. I had a successful surgery and I am really feeling really good,’ Smith Rowe said.

‘It was the exact same pain from back then, which has been quite hard to manage. Obviously a lot of people might not know about that from over the years. But I am just happy to come out the other side fully fit… I am just going to kick on from here.’

Smith Rowe’s return comes at a good time for Arsenal, who are short of attacking options after injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson.

Smith Rowe struggled with the injury for around four years and is ‘happy that it’s finally over’

‘It has been difficult being out for this long. I don’t think I have had this (long a lay-off) before and it has been tough watching the boys,’ he said.

‘It was really tough, but the whole team was around me. The manager (Mikel Arteta) really helped me and obviously I had my family back home supporting me. So it was really tough, but I managed to get through it and I am just happy I’m fully fit now.’

Arteta kept Smith Rowe involved during his recovery. The 22-year-old attacker attended team meetings ‘learning every day what he (Arteta) was trying to apply in training.’

But the injury nevertheless meant Smith Rowe – who made his England debut in November 2021 – was forced to watch the World Cup from home.

‘Obviously you always want to play for your country. But at the same time, I had to do what is right for my body. I am still young, so I will keep working hard to get more opportunities for the national team. But right now, I just need to focus on Arsenal and getting some more minutes,’ he said.

The 22-year-old hopes to help Arteta’s side, who lead the Premier League by five points, continue their push for the title.

Smith Rowe’s return comes at a good time for Arsenal to boost them in their push for the title

‘I have been itching to get out there,’ he said. ‘I hope I can make an impact.’

Arsenal head to rivals Tottenham on Sunday in a crucial north London derby. Defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season proved costly in the top-four race and Smith Rowe wants Arsenal to use that pain to exact revenge.

‘We will use the energy, how we felt last year, and use it going into the game,’ he said.

‘I think (victory) would be massive for us. I think it couldn’t come at a better time. We are feeling really good at the moment. All the boys know what it means to play in these kind of games. We are all going to rest up now and get ready for it.’




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