I know that Arsene Wenger has mentioned Joel Campbell many times recently as part of his striking options for Arsenal. Not only that, but the Frenchman said straight out the other day that he was not going to let the young Costa Rica international go anywhere, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The Frenchman said, “We’ve had lots of enquiries and turned them down. There have been plenty of clubs interested, but I don’t know how many.
“Once I say to my assistant he won’t go out on loan, even if people ask about him, my assistant doesn’t even tell me. When I say no it’s no.
“He’s definitely a target and a player who is wanted by many clubs.”
But Wenger also said that the last few days of the transfer window were like a poker game and that there would be plenty of lies and half truths flying around, so it is hardly surprising that we take what he says with a pinch of salt.
Anyway, there is an Arsenal transfer rumour in the Portuguese paper O Jogo that claims the young Gunner has asked Wenger to be allowed to join Benfica on loan, as he is concerned about not getting much time on the pitch this season. If this is true, I don’t really blame the lad, because the Prof has not given him a chance yet, despite the Gunners being seriously short in the forward areas.
Wenger seems determined to stick with Cazorla in that left forward position which is Campbell’s most likely role> So although he has spoken about the youngster in glowing terms, his actions suggest that he does not have a lot of faith in the lad, with Sanogo and Alexis in front of hims as cover for Giroud, so should we let him go out on loan?