By Gabriel Agbonlahor

6th Sep, 2023 | 1:26pm

Agbonlahor tells 'fuming' Emile Smith Rowe to quit Arsenal after what he saw

Gabby Agbonlahor has urged Emile Smith Rowe to push for an Arsenal exit as he continues to be overlooked by Mikel Arteta.

The former Aston Villa striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 23-year-old will be “fuming” to see Kai Havertz floundering in a central midfield role while he is sat among the substitutes.

Smith Rowe has played just three minutes of action for Arsenal this season in a substitute cameo against Man City in the Community Shield last month (6 August).

The England international, who signed a bumper five-year deal in 2021, failed to start a single game in the 2022-23 campaign.

Smith Rowe was the subject of widely reported interest from Chelsea and West Ham in the closing stages of the summer window, but a move failed to materialise.

His best Premier League return came in the 2020-21 campaign when he managed 10 goals and two assists in 33 league games.

Agbonlahor told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “I think if the manager knew what he was doing, Smith Rowe would be getting more opportunities.

“Havertz isn’t working in that role, it isn’t going to work.

“Smith Rowe must be fuming watching him in there. At his age, 23, you want to be breaking into the England squad and going to the Euros.

“That’s not going to happen because he’s not getting the game time.

“He must be so frustrated.

“Look at Cole Palmer, he will get a lot more game time.

“I think it’s something Smith Rowe should push a lot more. You need game time at 23, not to be sitting on benches.”

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