Darren Bent has criticised Mikel Arteta after the Arsenal manager claimed that Emile Smith Rowe must prove he can play at a high level and to start ahead of Kai Havertz.
The Gunners boss has often favoured Havertz through the early part of the season following his summer transfer from Chelsea. But Bent believes Smith Rowe should be starting over the 24-year-old ‘every day of the week’. So, it is wrong to say the midfielder must prove himself.
Smith Rowe earned his first start of the campaign against Brentford in the Carabao Cup this Wednesday. Havertz also started the tie as Arteta strived to see the German find confidence after a tough start at Emirates Stadium. Yet he was again void of self-belief in key moments.
Arteta infuriated Bent by claiming that Smith Rowe must prove ‘he can play at this level’
While Havertz struggled, Smith Rowe shone at Brentford to give Arteta a statement after the Spaniard’s comments. Speaking ahead of their third round tie, via the Mirror, Arteta noted it was a ‘big chance to show that he can play at this level’ and to ‘be a really important player’.
Arteta enraged Bent with those comments given how Smith Rowe helped to save his job at Arsenal in 2021/22. The Telegraph reported in August 2021 that Arteta only had five games to turn a woeful start around after the Gunners’ worst start to a league season for 67 years.
“I don’t get it,” Bent told talkSPORT. “Arteta came out with something the other day and it actually quite annoyed me when he said that it’s up to Smith Rowe to prove he can play at this level. What? It’s almost like Arteta has got a bit of a short memory.
“Listen, I love Arteta as a manager. But it was back to the 2021/22 season, I think it was, where his job was on the line. He was struggling a bit and who were the two that carried him through? [Bukayo] Saka and Smith Rowe, he got 10 Premier League goals that season.
“Then the following season he had injuries and he’s been injury-hit ever since. But the fact to say to see if he can play at this level, that’s just crazy. I think if you’re asking me who I would rather play, Havertz or Smith Rowe, [I’d pick] Smith Rowe every day of the week.”
Smith Rowe even kept Martinelli out of the Arsenal XI in 2021/22
Arsenal opened the 2021/22 campaign in horrendous form after losing 2-0 at Brentford, 2-0 to Chelsea and 5-0 at Manchester City. Smith Rowe started all three games before hitting a rich vein of form in September. He ended the term on 10 goals and two assists in 33 games.
His season sparked into life as Smith Rowe scored and assisted in a 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby. The three-cap England midfielder would go on to score eight of his goals through 12 games. His form also kept Gabriel Martinelli out of the line-up.
Arteta loved what Smith Rowe gave on Arsenal’s left-hand channel before he suffered a raft of injury problems in 2022/23. Now, the 23-year-old is working to regain his game fitness in line with playing just 195 minutes in all competitions last season and 106 so far in 2023/24.
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