Emile Smith Rowe ready to fight for Arsenal place after Havertz arrival – and claims Rice was best in England training

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EMILE SMITH ROWE knows it is crunch time - not only with the England Under-21s on Sunday, but for him next season at Arsenal.

The 22-year-old endured a deeply frustrating club campaign, wrecked by a groin injury which required surgery and then a lack of opportunities in the Gunners’ title tilt when fit.

Mikel Arteta wants to keep the playmaker, despite overlooking him regularly at the back end of the season when his team were hunted down by Manchester City.

And Smith Rowe’s route back into the Spaniard’s side looks even tougher next term following the £65million arrival of Kai Havertz.

Yet the Croydon-born lad is up for the fight, and his case will certainly be helped by his storming Under-21 Euros with the Young Lions, who face Portugal in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

Smith Rowe has been following Arsenal’s transfer business, which includes the £105m pursuit of Declan Rice from West Ham, with interest from Georgia.

The Gunners academy product told SunSport: “I see what happens and obviously it’s good for the club to add strength to the team.

“I feel like the additions we’re making are going to really help the team progress again.

“It’s really exciting so hopefully we can go one step further next season.

“Of course (it is extra competition with Havertz arrival), but this is football.

“You’ve just got to get on with it. I’ve got to keep working hard and it’s healthy competition. I’ve got to keep fighting.”

Smith Rowe, the only Under-21s squad-member with a senior appearance to his name, played with Rice for Gareth Southgate’s men in the 3-0 win over the Ivory Coast last year.

The three-cap starlet recalled: “I can’t speak highly enough of him.

“I remember my first camp and I was surprised with how good he actually was.

“He was the best in training. Just his level, intensity, technically, everything he was doing. A real leader and still so young. He was really, really good."

Smith Rowe admitted it was “difficult” not playing much of a role for Arsenal last term as they pushed Manchester City all the way.

But confidence is flowing back through him thanks to his summer stint with the Young Lions, having netted in the group-stage victories over Czech Republic and Israel.

England have looked like a team that has played together for a long time and that is literally the case for some of them.

Smith Rowe, Angel Gomes and Morgan Gibbs-White were all in the famed Under-17 squad, along with Phil Foden, that won the World Cup in 2017.

Asked if he was getting a similar vibe now as he did six years ago, the Gunners ace laughed and replied: “Yeah, we were talking about (the Under-17s triumph) the other day with a couple of the boys. Obviously a few of us were there.

“On the pitch, we just know each other really well. It’s good to look back at what happened and we definitely want to try to do similar things here.

“We’re a strong team. We’re not going to fear anyone. It will be a good game against Portugal but I’m confident that we’ll win.”

Best pal Bukayo Saka has been in touch to wish Smith Rowe luck, as have fellow club-mates Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson as well as some of Arsenal’s coaches.

Arteta has not, though Smith Rowe expects he will chat to the Gunners chief when he sees him in person.

That conversation may also involve some clarification over where the Spaniard wants to deploy Smith Rowe next term. SunSport understands the youngster may play more centrally.

It Wil be a good thing for Croydon EMILE SMITH ROWE is excited to see how Wilfried Zaha and Stormzy’s non-league club venture goes in his hometown of Croydon.

Crystal Palace legend Zaha and music icon Stormzy have linked up with former Eagles head of player care Danny Young to buy South London outfit AFC Croydon Athletic.

Smith Rowe was born in Croydon and lived there until around the age of 10 when he moved North of the river.

The Arsenal star told SunSport: “I saw (they bought it). I think that’s a good idea. I think I played against Croydon Athletic (as a kid).

“That’s a good thing for the community so I’m excited to see how the journey goes for them.”

Asked if he would be interested in doing something similar one day, Smith Rowe replied: “I’m not too sure, I haven’t thought about it. Definitely, it could happen in the future.”

The forward added: “I did see a lot of talk about my position but I’m not really sure what they think. I’m happy to play anywhere.

“Maybe it is inside, maybe it’s wide. I’ll be having that conversation when I get back.”

It would be understandable if Smith Rowe was feeling anxious about his game-time going into next term, given how last season went and the increased competition.

If in doubt, he need only look down at his left hip where he recently had a tattoo inked that reads ‘Confia en el process’.

It translates from Spanish to ‘Trust the process’, a phrase often associated with Arteta, though Smith Rowe insists it is not a reference to his club manager.

The Gunners star, who also has an inking of his mum Fiona on his left forearm and one that reads ‘Believe in Yourself’ on his left shoulder, explained: “I just like the quote.

“I wanted a bit of motivation for myself after a hard season.”

Trusting the process seems to be working for Lee Carsley’s flawless Young Lions right now - and Smith Rowe will hope his own faith pays off at Arsenal too next term.