%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Selling Joel Campbell is not the Best Idea for Arsenal
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal look to be getting closer to completing their second transfer of the summer, however this one appears to be an exit. It won’t be Mathieu Flamini though. The exit appears to be Joel Campbell.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
Palermo reportedly offered 3.5 million for the Costa Rican international but Arsenal rebuffed the offer and told them to double it and he can be theirs (via talkSPORT).
But is selling Joel Campbell really the best idea? The guy has not even been given a fighting chance at first-team football at Arsenal. It looks like he is being shipped out the door just as his toe crossed the thresh hold. We have seen how good Joel Campbell can be, particularly for the Costa Rican National side, who became the sweethearts of the 2014 World Cup. Campbell is a talented player.
However, you can have all the talent that you want, you can train as much as you want, but if you are not afforded a chance to make it on the actual pitch, then it is all for naught. Joel Campbell has made all of 10 appearances for Arsenal. While he has never looked prolific, you show me a guy that has proven that he is a star in his first ten appearances and it will most likely be a world-class athlete.
Joel Campbell has tremendous pace, he dribbles well and he does not have terrible finishing abilities. He had a fantastic loan two years ago for Olympiakos where he scored eight goals in 32 appearances. He especially showed up in the Champions League against Manchester United. The kid can play.
More from Arsenal Transfer Rumours
- Arsenal Transfers: Emile Smith Rowe could leave club before summer deadline
- Arsenal Transfers: Gabriel will not be leaving this summer
- Why Arsenal could sell Folarin Balogun to London rivals
- 5 defenders Arsenal could sign after Jurrien Timber injury
- Why was Kieran Tierney left out of Arsenal’s matchday squad?
At just 23 years of age, seeing him depart the club without a fair chance is tough because he could still amount to so much. He has proven he can compete against higher competition, we have seen the effort and work ethic that he puts into his game and despite being sent out on loan for four straight seasons, he still remained optimistic that he would make an impact at his favorite club – Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger is all about giving players every available opportunity and at the very least, the young Costa Rican deserves a shot at making the first team at the start of the season. He was given a stunted opportunity last year but again, that was just handful of appearances before he was loaned out. Without the proper opportunity to make it with a big team like Arsenal, we will never know what he could have been.
Joel Campbell maintained a solid 83% pass completion during his time at Arsenal. That is good. Remember how Hector Bellerin looked rather helpless in his first couple of appearances for Arsenal?
Couldn’t Joel Campbell do the same?
Next: Arsenal's Predicted Starting XI to face Chelsea