Mikel Arteta admits he is ‘worried’ by Emile Smith Rowe’s knee problem after midfielder missed Arsenal’s loss to West Ham in the Carabao Cup as Gunners face injury crisis

Mikel Arteta has admitted he is ‘concerned’ over the knee injury that forced Emile Smith Rowe to miss Arsenal’s 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat to West Ham on Wednesday night.

The midfielder made his first Premier League start of the season on Saturday as the Gunners beat Sheffield United 5-0, but was not in the squad for the match against the Hammers.

Ahead of kick-off, Arteta revealed that Smith Rowe had suffered a knee injury.

“We have a problem with him,” he told Sky Sports.

‘He felt something in his knee and had some pain after the match.

The midfielder missed Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat by West Ham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday

“We’re assessing him, but we’re a little concerned about him.”

Smith Rowe’s knee problem looks set to worsen the Emirates’ growing injury crisis, with Gabriel Jesus and Thomas Partey both set to be sidelined.

The Brazilian forward – who missed the first three games of the season due to a knee injury – limped off during Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Sevilla in the Champions League last Tuesday.

Jesus felt a soreness in his hamstring at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium after scoring and providing a brilliant assist for compatriot Gabriel Martinelli.

Subsequent scans ruled him out of the matches against Sheffield United and West Ham, but Arteta refused to put a timeline on his return.

“With him (Jesus) I’m not going to give a time frame to be honest,” the Gunners boss said at his press conference ahead of the trip to West Ham.

‘I did it once and was completely wrong. We have to be careful because we have to handle it properly.

“He’s already putting pressure on everyone and wants to get back as soon as possible, and we need him, so that’s great.”

Arteta has refused to put a timeline on Gabriel Jesus’ return after the Brazilian striker suffered a hamstring injury against Sevilla last week

Arsenal are also without Thomas Partey, who could be out until December

Meanwhile, Arteta also admitted Partey’s fitness was a ‘major concern’ after reports claimed the midfielder could be out until December.

The Ghanaian’s last appearance for the Gunners came as a substitute in the 1-0 win over Manchester City earlier this month. He suffered a setback in training last week ahead of Arsenal’s victory over Sevilla in the Champions League.

“I think he will be out for weeks,” Arteta said of Partey’s latest injury.

“It’s a big concern because when Thomas is fit and available and part of the team, we’ve seen the results and the impact he has on the team.”