Arsenal transfer news: Emile Smith Rowe will not make RB Leipzig debut for three weeks due to injury

The 18-year-old has been struggling with a groin injury, which was known to Leipzig before the loan move was confirmed

Saturday 02 February 2019 14:51

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January transfer window 2019: Premier League transfer round-up

Emile Smith Rowe will not start training with RB Leipzig for up to three weeks due to a groin injury suffered at Arsenal before Christmas.

As first reported by The Independent on Wednesday, the 18-year-old starlet has joined the Bundesliga side on a five-month loan deal.

The injury was suffered during training at Arsenal and was known to Leipzig and manager Ralf Rangnick ahead of the move.

After Leipzig defeated Hannover 3-0 on Friday, Rangnick said:

“He has a groin injury suffered in London and will not be able to train fully with us for the next two or three weeks.

Ranking every Arsenal player signed since Sven Mislintat's appointment

Show all 9

1/9Ranking every Arsenal player signed since Sven Mislintat's appointment

We rank every Arsenal player signed since the arrival of Sven Mislintat from Borussia Dortmund.

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5/10. Signed on a free transfer from Juventus, although far too slow to be relied upon as a regular first-team option.

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6/10. The first signing made under Mislintat's tenure as head of recruitment. Was sent-off last season against Leicester, but still only 21 with plenty of potential.

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6/10. A reliable option at the heart of Arsenal's defence, but £17.6m was an awful lot to spent on a 30-year-old.

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6/10. Arrived at the Emirates as part of the deal taking Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United. Has impressed sporadically but is yet to look anywhere near his best.

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7/10. Forced to wait for his chance, but now Unai Emery's established number one. Has made the occasional mistake but settling in well.

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8/10. Pound for pound, arguably Arsenal's best signing of the last two seasons. Already a regular aged just 19 and a snip at £7m.

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9/10. Exactly the sort of player Arsenal have been crying out for years now. Not just a first-team regular, but utterly essential to how Emery wants to play.

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9/10. A fantastic signing, albeit for a hefty sum. Already has 24 goals in just 35 Premier League appearances and has developed a fine strike partnership with Alexandre Lacazette.

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“We have to wait and see for now until we get him properly fit.”

Leipzig had long held an interest in Smith Rowe, but any loan move was subject to Arsenal confirming the signing of Denis Suarez from Barcelona.

With the Gunners out of both domestic cup competitions, playing time in the second half of the season would have been severely limited for the teenager, who was given Unai Emery’s full-blessing to leave for first-team action.

There is no option-to-buy included in the deal with Smith Rowe seen as a long-term star at Arsenal.

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