Gunners manager opens up about January loan exit.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has explained why he made the decision to send out-of-favour forward Joel Campbell on loan to Villarreal this January, Arsenal.com reports.
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The Gunners boss felt there was little opportunity for the Costa Rican international to break into his starting lineup with so much competition for places in the attack this season, and he wanted Campbell to continue to play regularly and gain experience.
The 22-year-old has barely featured for Arsenal since joining the club back in 2011, spending three seasons out on loan before finally arriving back at the Emirates Stadium this pre-season.
Still, Campbell was limited to the bench and fleeting appearances in the cup competitions, failing to stake his claim for a starting spot ahead of the numorous other big names upfront.
Now in La Liga, Campbell can continue his development and seems to remain part of Wenger’s plans for the future after signing a new contract prior to his departure.
“Joel has extended his contract so he will go to Villarreal and he needed games. Here was a bit obstructed for him because there were too many players in the same position,” the Frenchman said.
“After six months, he worked very hard every day and didn’t get enough chances to play, so I wanted to give him a chance to continue to get experience at the top level.”
While Campbell will return to Arsenal in the summer, it seems unlikely that he’ll ever be able to forge a successful career at Arsenal.