Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has challenged Emile Smith Rowe to prove his value to the club.

The 23-year-old academy graduate has become a peripheral figure in the first team picture at the Emirates Stadium.

However, Arteta does not want to give up on Smith Rowe and insists the attacking midfielder can play himself into the team.

Speaking ahead of a Carabao Cup game against Brentford, Arteta said: “There's been many reasons why he hasn't started a match. He was out for a long, long time.

“In the last two matches he's played more minutes and tomorrow (today) he will have a big chance to show that he can play at this level and be a really important player for us.

“He needs time on the pitch and he needs opportunities and we want to provide that to him. Then he needs to prove it like anybody else on the field that he deserves to play."