Arsene Wenger was famous for bringing in unknown players at very cheap prices, like Takuma Asano, who was bought from Sanfrecce Hiroshima two years ago, but hasn’t been anywhere near the club as he waits to earn his work permit for the UK.
The Japanese international spent his first season on loan at Stuttgart and helped them to win promotion to the Bundesliga. He was asked to stay for another year but the step up to the top tier proved too much for him and he spent most of his time on the bench. He only managed 15 games and just one goal. It would appear that he is going to stay in Germany on loan but he will be at Hannover next season. He is very unlikely ever to play a game for Arsenal….
Joel Campbell was brought in after some brilliant displays for Costa Rica at a young age, and has actually been with us since 2011 but has spent nearly the whole time out on loan. Here is his long and varied list of clubs…..
2011–2012 → Lorient (loan) 25 (3)
2012–2013 → Betis (loan).. 28 (2)
2013–2014 → Olympiacos (loan) 32 (8)
2015 ……..→ Villarreal (loan) 15 (1)
2016–2017 → Sporting CP (loan) 18 (3)
2017– ……..→ Betis (loan).. 8 (1)
This season has been bad for Campbell with long spells on the treatment table, but his Arsenal contract ends as of now, so he will be hoping he can put himself in the shop window as he will be with Costa Rica in the Finals. He wasn’t too bad a player when given the chance in Arsenal’s first team, but Wenger didn’t ever give him a consistent run in the first team. We won’t be seeing him again at the Emirates…
Chuba Akpom was actually a star of the Arsenal academy and was one of our most prolific youngsters ever, but when given a chance in the senior side his talent seemed to dry up completely. He only made 12 appearances for the Gunners, mostly in Cup games, but never once found the back of the net. After various loans at League One and Championship clubs where he failed to impress, he was finally sent to Sint-Truiden in Belgium’s second tier, and he may just have found his level as he scored 8 goals for the Belgian minnows. He still has one year left on his Arsenal contract but I doubt w will be seeing him again either…
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