Emile Smith Rowe ready to bounce back from injury-plagued season

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Emile Smith Rowe is raring to go ahead of the new season after a "really tough" campaign last time out. </p>

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The academy graduate came through the ranks in north London and, having established himself as an exciting performer under Mikel Arteta, was rewarded with a new long-term deal two years ago. </p>

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Smith Rowe made his senior England debut later in 2021 but things went awry last term. </p>

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The 22-year-old underwent groin surgery to rectify an issue that has been plaguing him since a loan spell at RB Leipzig in 2019, restricting him to 14 club appearances and no starts. </p>

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"I am feeling good, it's good to be back with the boys, back on the pitch with my team-mates," the 22-year-old attacking midfielder said. </p>

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"My ambition is to get some more minutes this season and really push on. </p>

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"Last year was really hard for me, so I just want to kick on now and prove that I can play for this club. </p>

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"It was really tough because I had surgery twice, so it was really hard. </p>

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"But my family, friends and the club helped me a lot to get through it. I'm just really happy to be pain free right now and get fit. </p>

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"This was my first time having surgery, so it was a really hard decision to take but I went for it. </p>

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"I'm happy that I don't feel anything there anymore. I am really happy to be fully fit now." </p>

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Smith Rowe, who came on in Saturday's 2-0 loss to Manchester United in New Jersey, is also buoyed by his starting role in England's Under-21 European Championship final win against Spain. </p>

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It was, he says, an "amazing experience" to triumph in Georgia - success that will only add to his hunger for silverware as Arsenal look to build on last season's Premier League runners-up spot. </p>

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"I am at a big club at Arsenal," Smith Rowe said. "If I didn't have competition, there wouldn't be no point. </p>

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"I have to push myself every day in training, keep working hard. </p>

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"It's tough competition but it's good at the same time. I need to keep working hard and believing in myself. </p>

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"We're very ambitious, we want to win trophies. We're back in Champions League, which is good for the club so really ambitious for us and I want to push on now. </p>

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"There's definitely a lot of confidence going into the new season. </p>

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"We're a young team as well, so to get that far last season was really good from us. </p>

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"But, of course, we want to win trophies, so we are going to definitely try and be stronger this year and take it a step further." </p>

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<p>The article <a href="https://www.planetsport.com/soccer/news/emile-smith-rowe-ready-to-bounce-back-from-injury-plagued-season">Emile Smith Rowe ready to bounce back from injury-plagued season </a> appeared first on Planetsport.com.</p>