Max-Morlock-Stadion, Nuremberg, Germany - July 8, 2022. Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe.
Arsenal reporter for GOAL Charles Watts has shared that Mikel Arteta will make a late decision on whether Emile Smith Rowe or Reiss Nelson will play tonight.
The Lowdown: Injury woes
Both Smith Rowe and Nelson have missed 13 and 16 games in total respectively through injury so far this season, and coupled up with the injury to Gabriel Jesus, it has meant that the North Londoners have lacked depth in attacking areas at times.
In the 1-1 draw at home to Brentford at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Arteta only had Leandro Trossard and young Amario Cozier-Duberry as real attacking options that he could call upon from the bench, and coupled up with the 1-0 loss away at Everton, the lack of options are starting to cost them points in the Premier League.
The Latest: Smith Rowe and Nelson calls
Taking to Twitter during Arteta’s pre-game press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Watts shared that the manager will make a decision that evening with regards to whether Smith Rowe and Nelson will be involved against Manchester City:
“On Nelson and Smith Rowe, he says he will make a decision this evening as to whether they will be involved against City.”
The Verdict: Potentially big boost
If both Smith Rowe and Nelson are deemed fit enough to be in the squad, it will be a big boost for Arteta and his team.
It would give the Spaniard two extra attacking threats that he could call upon from the bench, easing the burden off of the likes of Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli.
Nelson already showed his credentials earlier this season, scoring two goals and making one assist in a 5-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest having had to come off the bench early for an injured Saka, while Smith Rowe’s quality is known, as he managed ten goals and two assists in the Premier League last term.
Nonetheless, this is a huge game against their title rivals, and so the Gunners will want as many players as they can available to be involved in it.
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