Arsenal: Joel Campbelll Departure Firm But Fair

Arsenal’s Joel Campbell is unfancied within the confines of the Emirates. Wenger has reportedly now told him to find another club, a demand that is both firm and fair.

Part and parcel of being one of the biggest clubs in Europe is handling a big squad. That means heavy doses of rotation, keeping key players fresh for the whole season and excellent man management. Arsene Wenger has been a master of many of these key aspects for many years, and once again, he is showing his character by once again treating his players as humans not just tactical pieces to be used to the benefit of the club.

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One player that has been underused this past season was Joel Campbell. The Costa Rican looked dangerous when he played in the troubling wide right position. Possessing great pace, Campbell was a continual threat coming off his wing, linking up with Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil, injecting some much needed pace in what was often a lethargic Arsenal attack.

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However, he was inconsistent, often drifting through games without ever being able to imprint his talent on proceedings, and was clearly not a subject of Arsene Wenger’s favor. That will often lead to being fazed out of first team action, as Campbell subsequently was with the introduction of Alex Iwobi, and now, it looks as though he may being leaving the squad altogether.

Wenger has reportedly told Campbell to look for another club, either on a permanent or tempoaray basis, and with a squad full of options – none of them particularly convincing, though that is an argument for another time – it is likely that Campbell will not receive much playing time, disregarding a major injury crisis, if he stays with the London club.

Ultimately, Wenger is displaying the utmost respect to Campbell and his future career. Now 24, he is entering a key time in his short football career where he must establish himself as one of the better players at his club. He will not get that chance, and Wenger wholly understands this.

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The Arsenal boss is being harsh with a player who certainly provides quality depth. However, he is also being very fair, and should be commended for being so.