Arsene Wenger’s last season signing, 20-year-old striker Joel Campbell, is due to continue playing in the Spanish league as he now signed a season-long loan with Primera Division side Real Betis.
The French manager seemed nothing short than extremely enthusiastic last summer when he managed to land Campbell, in a time when everybody was expecting a top transfer to be made and massive reinforcements to be brought to the club, especially considering that Nasri and Fabregas were already giving signs that they would make a switch.
Campbell is extremely happy with the fact that he has the chance to go to Betis, at a club where he can get constant playing time, and said:”It is a great opportunity for me to grow”
“I am going to the world’s best league, and I want to play. I want to show what I am capable of.”
Arsene Wenger was acting like Campbell would be the club’s savior, so it’s pretty disappointing to see the Frenchman uneager to find a spot for the striker in his squad even after a season of action in France.
Campbell was pretty good last season for Lorient even though he did miss some huge goal scoring opportunities along the way, but many would have expected him to be in the Arsenal squad this season.
Do you think that he still stands a chance to impose next summer now that Podolski and Giroud have also joined?
campbell failed to play enough matches for costa rica to obtain the work permit. by moving to spain his profile will rise, so if he fails to play enough matches this season at least some decent performances will be more noted in la liga, rather than ligue 1, hopefully leading to a special talent visa.
The problem with Campbell is not that of finding a sport for him in Arsenal squad but that of work permit. Without work permit he cant play for us. Is better for him to go to a club where he will get enough game time that will secure him a work permit and then he can come and compete in red and white shirt.
since when has arsene acted like campbell would be the club’s savior. if anything, he’s played down his talent, and has stated that he’s a bit of a gamble as i recall arsene saying.
and why wouldn’t he ever be a gunner. he’s shown great promise, he’s only 20 (so there’s still time!), he wants it and arsenal wants it….
this is dumb!
only thing stopping him so far is that we have a big competitive squad with lots of strikers and wingers.