Joel Campbell
Another player who was loaned out in January.
Joel Campbell, who had showed great promise during the World Cup with Costa Rica, was used in a swap deal with Villarreal for defender Gabriel Paulista, which saw both players go in opposite directions, right after he’d signed a new long-term deal with Arsenal.
Again, he was another player who struggled to for game time at the Emirates and wasn’t given the opportunity to show more of his talent. With the amount of wingers already at Arsenal’s disposal, the manager has a decision to make on the 23 year-old this summer.
Should someone like Theo Walcott exit the club, that may pave the way for Campbell to earn a place on the bench at least. But Wenger has expressed his desire to keep the England man at the club, whether he agrees a new deal or not.
Then there’s Welbeck and Oxlade-Chamberlain to compete with, as well has Mesut Ozil. I can’t really see Joel Campbell dislodging any of these players when everyone is fit.
So the big question here is, does Campbell really have a future at Arsenal? Probably, after signing a new deal, but where will Wenger fit him in a squad with such fierce competition? Again, maybe the best thing here is go let him go permanently, with a 5th loan spell seemingly unlikely.