Emirates Stadium side turned down permanent and loan moves for striker.
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been attacked over his decision to not allow striker Joel Campbell leave on transfer deadline day according to the Daily Mirror.
Wenger had been willing to use the 22 year old Costa Rican as bait in his pursuit of QPR’s Loic Remy, only to see the French international move to Chelsea, but had turned down a £10m bid from Primeira Liga side Benfica as well as a potential loan alternative.
The Lisbon side claim they were told at the last minute that neither deal was accepted which left them short of time to bring in an alternative.
Campbell, who was ushered into the Gunners first team set-up after three seasons out on loan, has managed just 16 minutes of Premier League action thus far this term and seems unlikely to feature prominently this term.
By all accounts Campbell’s agent Joaquin Batica isn’t best pleased telling Portuguese media:
“Benfica fought until the last minute to sign Campbell but the operation didn’t happen because, in the last hour, Arsenal decided to keep him.
“Wenger says he did not want to sell him. But if he is not in his plans, then why not allow him to leave?”
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