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Key role
Mikel Arteta insists Emile Smith Rowe will have a key role to play as Arsenal push for Premier League glory.
Smith Rowe, 22, has not featured for the table-topping Gunners since September after undergoing surgery on an ongoing groin issue.
He is not in contention to face West Ham on Boxing Day but Arteta is confident the midfielder will return to action soon.
The Arsenal boss said: “Emile is close. He had a setback but he’s there and he’s in a good place.
“We’ve done a lot of things with Emile. Sometimes he has been close [to the group], sometimes he has been in different places to see a different environment.
“His attitude has been great and this is part of any career, any development, to have periods where you are out and have long-term injuries.
“He needs to react to that. But he has our support and he is a huge talent that we need for the second part of the season at his best because his contribution will be key to the team.”
Talk of the Toon
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe cannot wait to have record signing Alexander Isak back in action.
The £60million Sweden striker has made just three appearances — scoring in two of them — since his summer switch from Real Sociedad.
A thigh injury picked up on international duty in September, which he subsequently aggravated, has sidelined him during Newcastle’s surge into the top four.
But while he is unlikely to feature during Toon’s festive programme, Howe is hopeful Isak will not have to wait much longer before returning to action.
He said: “He’s doing well and we’re pleased with him but he probably won’t make the next couple of Premier League games. We’re hoping he can play a big part in a busy January.
“We’re listening to the medical team to try to get this next part right because this is the most important bit.
“He’s nearly there. We just have to make sure that when he steps on to the pitch he is fully ready.
“I don’t want a half-ready player. He has to be ready to execute what we need.”
Great loss
Sir Geoff Hurst led the tributes to George Cohen after his 1966 World Cup-winning England team-mate died aged 83.
Cohen played every match of the finals on home soil, having stepped into Sir Alf Ramsey’s team following an injury to regular right-back Jimmy Armfield.
His death means there are now only two survivors from the starting XI for the 4-2 final victory over West Germany — Hurst and Sir Bobby Charlton, who has dementia.
Hurst, whose hat-trick proved decisive at Wembley, tweeted: “Very sad to hear my friend and England team-mate George Cohen has died.
“Everyone, without exception, always said that George was such a lovely man.
“He will be sadly missed and my heartfelt thoughts are with George’s wife Daphne and his family.”
England will pay full tribute to Cohen, who won 37 caps, at the Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine at Wembley on March 26 next year.
