adminARSENAL winger Joel Campbell has joined Sporting Lisbon on a season-long loan after failing to find a place in Arsene Wenger’s first-team plans.
The 24-year-old was at the club last season after four previous loan deals in four years, and impressed in patches, but has not done enough to earn a first-team place.
And he has now joined the Portuguese side, who finished second in the top-flight last season, in the hope of firing them back to a first title since 2002.
The player revealed the deal on Twitter yesterday morning, tweeting ‘you should sign Joel Campbell!! @Sporting_CP’, before the club replied ‘challenge accepted’ with a picture of him in their kit.
Campbell scored four times last season in 30 games, starting 11 times in the Premier League as Arsenal finished second behind Leicester.
But the emergence of Alex Iwobi, as well as a return to fitness for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla mean his playing time was likely to be limited at The Emirates.
And the club hope that the Costa Rican forward will benefit from another loan spell, playing Champions League football and fighting for a league title.
He has previously spent time on loan at Lorient, Real Betis, Olympiacos and Villarreal since joining the north London club in 2011.
Despite an impressive showing for the Gunners last season, Wenger is yet to be convinced by the Costa Rica international and another season away from the club could suit all three parties.
Campbell should play regular football for Sporting and he will also be re-united with his national team-mate – former Fulham midfielder Bryan Ruiz.
The 24-year-old’s departure could mean that German starlet Serge Gnabry will now be given the opportunity to fight for a first team place in north London after his impressive showing at the Rio Olympics. — Daily Mail
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu