‘The levels’: Kevin Campbell says Kai Havertz is now better than ‘dynamic’ Arsenal teammate 

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Kevin Campbell thinks Kai Havertz is ‘better’ than his Arsenal teammate, Emile Smith Rowe. 

Life has been tough for Kai Havertz following his big-money transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal this summer, with many questioning his signing before he could even join and still questioning him now that he has played.

But despite that noise from within and the outside, Kevin Campbell feels that Emile Smith Rowe is behind his struggling teammate, as he told The Highbury Squad.

Two seasons ago, Emile Smith Rowe hit ten goals from 33 Premier League games for Mikel Arteta. 

But since then, he has only started one game in around 18 months, with injuries and a lack of form all contributing to that. 

As a result, club legend and former striker Campbell thinks the Hale-End star is falling behind, even to someone like Kai Havertz.

Smith Rowe and Havertz

“Who is better,” said Campbell. “Well, Havertz is, at the moment, because he is playing.

“We want Smith Rowe to be at that level, of course we do, that’s why he has to take his chance. It’s a tough school now. We aren’t just searching for a top-four place, now we are talking about winning trophies and being in the Champions Leagues etc… The levels have gone up. 

“No matter what they say, Kai Havertz has done it in the Champions League. Nobody can take it away from him. Not only has he played all the way through, but he has won it. Beating Man City.

“Yes, ESR is more dynamic than Havertz. But if you don’t show it. It’s tough!”

Will Smith Rowe leave Arsenal?

There has to come a point where the 23-year-old has to think about his future and progress a career that has started to stagnate.

If that means heading for the exit door, then he has to do it, even if it means leaving Arsenal in January when they will be in the middle of a Premier League title race.

Smith Rowe is good enough to be starting for Arsenal and representing England, but the fact of the matter is, it has been two years since he has been able to do that and something has to give now.