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Arsenal: Joel Campbell the forgotten outcast who needs solving
Joel Campbell is set to return to Arsenal after another loan spell at Sporting Lisbon. He has been outcast and forgotten, and his future needs solving.
It has undoubtedly been a frustrating time at Arsenal for Joel Campbell. His initial progress was stented by work permit issues, that meant that he was unable to join up with the club for a number of years, and subsequently endured a number of different loan spells. However, even since the success of his work permit application in 2014, Campbell has been unable to establish himself at the Emirates.
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Arsene Wenger was unwilling to hand him starting appearances in games of significance in the 2015/16 season, limiting him to lesser Premier League and domestic cup games, and subsequently sent him on loan to Sporting Lisbon last year.
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But now he is set to return to North London with his future far from certain. In fact, such has been his anonymity because of Wenger’s distrust of his talents, I actually forgot that he was returning to the club this summer. His agent, Joaquim Batica, though, when asked about the prospects of his client by Lucarne Opposee, he talked in a way that suggested he was trying to sell his best features, perhaps sounding out possible destinations:
"“Arsenal have lent him several times, but I emphasise that last year he played about 30 matches in all. I think that as a 24-year-old player who has played in the Champions League, played a quarter-final of the World Cup, took part in championships in Spain, France, England, Greece, Portugal, he has a very important background. He continues to work every day to accumulate a significant number of games each year.”"
Moreover, Campbell has just one more year remaining on his current contract and will be 25 by the time next season rolls around. Rarely does Wenger allow a player of his age to leave on loan, unless in an attempt to overcome long-running injury or fitness issues, if he sees him having a future at Arsenal.
It is seemingly the case that, while I may had forgotten about Campbell, Wenger finished with him altogether. And although that may seem like a frustrating decision given the glimpses of skill and ability that Campbell showed at times, both when with the Gunners and during a series of loan spells, it is perhaps a sensible one.
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The chances of Campbell of breaking into the starting XI are extremely slim and he has little time and room to grow given his age. Campbell may no longer be the forgotten man, but he is still an outcast, one that will most likely be sold this summer.