Sporting Lisbon have confirmed that Arsenal winger Joel Campbell has signed on a season-long loan.
The 24-year-old established himself as a regular in Arsene Wenger’s first team squad last season scoring four goals in 30 appearances.
Campbell’s move to Portugal represents his fifth loan deal since signing for the Gunners in 2011 from homeland side Saprissa. He’s previously played in France (Lorient), Spain (Real Betis & Villarreal) and Greece (Olympiakos).
Sporting announced the move on their Twitter feed. Arsenal have since confirmed the story.
.@joel_campbell12 challenge accepted! Welcome to Sporting CP! #BemvindoCampbell pic.twitter.com/NyA7vIv2aV
— Sporting CP (@Sporting_CP) August 21, 2016
Speaking about his move to the Estadio Jose Alvalade, Campbell said: “I can only promise to work a lot. To sacrifice myself for the team and to deliver 100 per cent. I think the results will come as a consequence. I know what I can do and I hope everything goes well for me at the Alvalade.”
We can only assume that Campbell has been allowed to move to ease Serge Gnabry’s reintroduction to the first team. The Germany under-21 international will return to London with a silver medal after losing last night’s Olympic football tournament final to Brazil.
Best of luck to Joel. It looks as though he got out while he could.
That’s the last straw for me. The manager is so deluded he can’t even tell which players are good anymore.
Wenger out.
Why would anyone give this thumbs down? Campbell may not be the most skillful player in the squad but he has never let the team down, puts in an offensive and defensive shift every time he plays, and improved so much when given the chance last season. He is SO MUCH of a better option for us than Walcott, Wilshere out on right or frankly Alexis the way he has started this year. AW just can’t see the forest for the trees.
It honestly feels like he is trolling us.
I NOW FUCKING HATE WENGER!!!!
Part of the ISLAM SLIMANI DEAL!!!
I don’t get it. I just don’t get it.
You hear people say it feels like we should upgrade on Campbell if you want to win the league. Okay. If you say so. But why not upgrade on the players he’s obviously better than instead?
Because Wenger doesn’t need to justify shelling out one of his “own” projects, awarding them with 140k / week contract…He would look that he failed…
I don’t know about Arsenal but Wenger definitely goes out of my desktop background today.
This doesn’t make any sense, if we are short up front why liana him out because if anything happens to Giroud the Walcott will go centre leaving just the ox on the right ( and of coarse Rambo).
Unless it’s as part of a deal to loan him out in exchange for the signing of Silami ( who ticks all the boxes as an understudy to Giroud and will be happy to be second choice CF )
COYG
I’m happy that JC is moving to a situation where he gets more playing time; however, I’m livid at how wasted he was by the Manager. When you compare his performances for Costa Rica vs Arsenal you have to ask what sort of management is happening at Emerites
I couldn’t agree with you more. Wenger is a disgrace. Joel is as honest as they come. The manner in which he has been treated by Wenger is despicable. I hope he gets the sack.
I bet he’s going to excell. He just needed that trust and if sporting give him that wait to see the real Joel Campbell. Good luck mate.
We will at least know if Wenger made the right choice, if he excels at Sporting and Walcott and Alexis continue to struggle, it will be down to Wenger.
hope Serge Gnabs his chance
This is as bad as not signing anyone. Loans are primarily supposed to be a mutual solution for a player who is surplus and agitating for a move or a player who needs to develop further. Neither applies to Campbell so that means we’re just clueless.
how do you know joel was not looking for a move, maybe he wanted to be somewhere he would be automatic first choice, he has done little to merit being a first choice player at AFC, he rarely scores, more rarely assists, yes he works hard, a lot of the time, chasing after the ball that he has lost of given away, he had a few good moments in his 30 games for us, but anyone losing their shit over this is only looking for an excuse to complain
Hmmm try comparing to other players we have for the same position and tell me he’s not the best we have/had
I have only one question for you then. Did Oxlade contribute more last season? Or Walcott for that matter when you consider his wages and how long he’s been a first-team member?
walcott contributed more last season, and this despite him having a poor season, which for me actually shows that joel’s contribution is being way over played, and is being done so by many for the simple reason that they want to bash the manager, the club and certain players, walcotts wages and time here has nothing to do with it, and ox was out injured for nearly all the season, I’m not a big fan of ox, but he has far more natural ability than jc, it remains to be seen if he fulfills that potential.
The Ox and Walcott have not performed consistently, despite having numerous opportunities. Gnabry showed a lot of promise a few years ago, but his injury put him back drastically, and it remains to be seen whether he can make it at this level. Campbell is a very decent player who always gave his best, and is one of the few technical players in the squad who can do a effective job on the right wing. It is a shame for him, and another baffling decision by Wenger.
you and I are definitely watching two different Arsenals, I believe.
Wenger himself called him the Coq of last season, mate. What else do you want?
Funny you say that…cause the Ox is someone who rarely scores, rarely assists, and while chases back 30 yards to recover the ball he just lost…Ox loses the ball and picks it up out of our own damn net, since he always loses it just outside our own box.
*while Joel chases back
“he rarely scores, more rarely assists”
he had 4 goals and 6 assists in 1614 minutes for us. so first off, he assists more frequently than he scores, which means your observation is rubbish to begin with. moreover, that’s a non-penalty goal or assist every 161.4 minutes. for comparison walcott had one every 134, ramsey one every 284.9, ox one every 484.3, iwobi one every 224.6, alexis one every 117. so he was our third-best option on the right last year.
This is pathetic one of the the few bright stories from last season and this is how Wenger repays a guy that only gave 100%, never fussed, dedicated, injury free, and overall better than a few. This is done while Wenger’s pet projects in Walcott, Ox, Wilshere still to bear fruit in over 20 years of combine time with the club.
It’s so depressing. Going into the season with all the hope being sucked out of you because of total mis management from Arsene and now this. Absolutely fucking scandalous what is happening at our club.
One of the few players to show some fight and spirit last season and one that really looked as though he would kick on and achieve.
Love arsenal and the history and the memories from over 40 years of support but this is just beyond a joke. no organisation no plan no hope
Part of a deal to get ISLAM SLIMANI ?????
ISLAM SLIMANI ?????
Part of a deal to get ISLAM SLIMANI ????
Part of the ISLAM SLIMANI DEAL !!!!!!
He’s a Wenger type of signing, he’ll be happy to play second choice behind Giroud, he’s very similar in style , holds the ball up , brings others into the game and good in the air also only around £20 mill and cheap wages.
He’s not the big star we are all hoping for but he’s what Wenger likes.
COYG
This is just obnoxious. Why fucking send him out on loan, when we are already very short in numbers upfront?
I just can’t understand? Fuck me dude!
Serge Gnabry over Campbell is just stupid!
Walcott or Ox over Campbell is stupid.
Joke!!!!
How blind can the bench be and not see what he brought to arsenal and what others dont
While we at it…Wenger claims that there is no quality in the market but it’s been 3 years since the dutch c**t left. He means to tell us that it has taken a club of Arsenal’s stature 3 long years to find a quality CF and in that time there isn’t one found? I can’t wait until the season is over and he leaves. Wenger who is and offensive coach has not found a CF in that time…In the mean time Simeone who is a defensive coach has found Mandzukic, Martinez, Griesman, Gameiro all of which would’ve been an upgrade… Read more »
I agree with your point, but Mandzukic and Martinez aren’t better than Giroud. Both were in and out of that Atleti team before they could prove anything.
both mandzukic and martinez flopped at atletico, but that should be overlooked as they cost big bucks, and that is what so many afc fans mean when they demand we sign a quality forward.
since rvp last played for us we have found Giroud, Podolski, Welbeck, Aelxis, but that does not sound as good as we have not found a striker since rvp left.
Agree that it’s a disgrace we haven’t bought a world class striker for so long. Though I wouldn’t give all the credit to Simeone, Atletico have been scouting the best centre forwards for years…so maybe it’s our recruitment system, scouts, deal makers we should be complaining about. I guess Simeone says yes more. Feel so weird about the club at the moment…feel like it’s rotten right at the top and Wenger has fallen into their trap. It may not guarantee success but any kind of change seems like a way forward at the moment… Usmanov buys out Kroenke and allow… Read more »
Have Arsenal ever gone out and made a big money move for a world class striker? Henry, Bergkamp, and maybe Wright fit the bill but not sure they were seen that way when they arrived.
Arsene didnt sign Dennis tho
I don’t believe anyone said Wenger signed Bergkamp?
mandzukic, martinez, and gamiero are not better than giroud. griezmann is, but he’s not a #9. noen of which is to say we shouldn’t have acquired a new striker in addition to giroud, but the propensity to underrate him for no reason is silly.
this campbell deal is bad enough, no point making up random stuff to throw on top.
Utterly disgusting to see the likes of Mr Invisible Walcott on the first team over and over, while seeing this guy who always gave his best, and is all around better at football than Theo, go on loan time after time…
Really goes to show players don’t get selected on merit in this team.A real disappointment to say the least. On the plus side hopefully it is a good move for the player. Good luck Joel.
if JC is so good then how come walcott who if as poor as you claim, scored over double what jc did last season, JC 21+10 goals 4, TW 21+20, goals 9, walcott also had more assists.
yes jc worked hard, and was a good squad player, but lets not make out he is the second coming.
In the prem walcott had 28 appearances to Joel’s 19, scored 5 goals to Joel’s 3 and they each got 3 assists, added to this I’m sure Joel played less minutes per appearance compared to Theo, and Joel was getting better the more he played in contrast to Theo. Pair this with the added hunger, work rate and inventiveness Joel showed and you can see why people are annoyed
Also consider that this was Joel’s first real run in the first team and Walcott has been here for ten years?? We have ten years of patience for Walcott but barely half a season for Joel when he showed more passion, drive and effort in a handful games than Theo has in years. Do you think Joel would have jumped out of the way of that tackle last year the way Walcott do did? We are a shambles. It is going to get worse before it gets better.
Simply nonsense…..
Wenger’s gone off the deep end. Anyone with a pulse could see that Campbell outworked Walcott and Ox last year. Not only does he deserve a spot on the squad, but he should unquestionably be in the starting XI. It’s long past time for this stubborn, ego-driven man to call it a career. Hopefully, Campbell can return to the team next year with a new manager in place.
I can get making room for Gnarby, that’s fine. It’s putting faith in him and hoping he signs a new contract (which he is in his rights not to btw!) but why not sell Cambell?? In this ‘crazy’ transfer window?? Get some more money in for the big striker we all know is going to happen on the last day of the window! I actually think Gnarby could walk on a free, Wenger will be gutted. He mentioned how we stood by him through his injury n failed loan and then let him go to the Olympics, like he owes… Read more »
We’re a shambles
Only 599 people’s wages for arsene to stay awake at night worrying about.
Nice that he doesn’t feel they should earn the London living wage though as he clearly cares about them all
… And so begins another chapter in The Curious Case of Joel Campbell.
I am watching this season with complete apathy now. I have no hope for anything resembling glory, and thought that next year after Wenger things will change. However this isn’t really a Wenger issue, I think it’s an ownership issue. I think Wenger will be offered a new contract but step down (honourable move). Whoever the board brings in will have the same mandate, maximise profits and minimise expense. It’s a business for Kronke and as fans we will suffer year after year.
Arsenal is really fucking. This loan makes absolutely no sense at all.
I have always supported Wenger but I just cannot do it anymore. The man is digging his own grave and thats extremely painful and sad to see in my opinion.
He is just what we need in the squad and could have been the difference yesterday. Reminds me a lot of Mahrez, a tricky inverted winger with no shortage of awareness. Incredibly disappointed to see him go as he did everything asked last season.
laughable, nothing in jc’s game is remotely like mahrez, jc has neither the trickery, skill, speed or goals that mahrez has displayed.
Wow. These comments are ludicrous. What is happening to this site?
Joel Campbell is not comparable to Mahrez.
People are upset about Campbell but for me if he isn’t a part of the plan then sell him. However what is unacceptable to me is that fact that other players like theo and ox get chance after chance. Campbell always gave his all and thats all you can ask from a player. Good luck to him.
I can only assume that a world class striker will be announced imminently, right? RIGHT?!!!
“We dont need a striker, Sanchez can be our Suarez, and Walcott can play upfront and we have Welbeck coming back from Injury, blah blah blah”
How Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere and Calum Chambers gets to stay ahead of Joel Campbell in this team beats me.
So Campbell gets shipped out again while we have a bunch of English/ European players given chance after chance and fail to impress. I really hope Campbell does well and end up with a manager that trusts him as no matter what he’s done it seems AW doesn’t have faith in him.
They’re British and Arsene favorites
I hope Wenger does the honourable thing and steps down or refuse another contract if it is offered. So we can begin to see the other issues causing our steady yearly decline. Wenger is part of the problem, but definitely not the only culprit.
LOL. No words for how clueless Wenger is these days, worthless manager.
More proof – if it were needed – that the manager has not only lost his mojo but his marbles too. Campbell may not be a world beater but the squad is stronger with him in it.
If he doesn’t like him then might as well sell him. Poor guy has on countless loans in the past few years. Just not fair. Useless Walcott will forever be at this club. Has Wenger gone blind? We’re no experts but u can clearly see that Joel is so much better than Theo and maybe even Oxlade
Best of luck to Campbell, although I am disappointed he’s not with us and being given a proper chance I am happy for him that he will have a chance to play and show other teams what he can do so hopefully we can get some money for him next Summer as Wenger surely doesn’t seem him in his future plans. One of the most head scratching things I’ve seen from Arsenal in a while (and there certainly have been many) is that why Wenger continues to not give him proper chances based on the performances he’s put in.
he got 30 games last season – 20 starts, and in reality he did fuck all to force his way into the starting 11, few goals, less assists, always worked hard yes, but also always seems to lack fitness, and so very one footed that he constantly turned back if he could not cut inside on to his left foot. Iwobi impressed more and showed more potential
English bias by Wenger? Chance after chance after chance for the mediocre Walcott, ox and wilshere while Campbell barely even got a chance. Bs. We are short up front, why let Campbell go? Fact that Walcott is still on the books is the biggest embarrassment.
I think Joel is a seriously good player. I think Jack is better.
Truth is, we (at least those of us on here who’ve yet to attain omniscience) don’t know Wenger’s intentions yet. If he backs Iwobi and/or Gnabry to be at least as good as Campbell, that’s his call. The comparative indulgence of Walcott, even Ox, is harder to fathom, but players must agree to be loaned/sold (and Walcott hasn’t been shy of an ebbing contract).
Always sad to see a fan favourite leave.
Good luck Joel.
I don’t understand this. I would have always started Campbell in front of Chamberlain after last season
How brutal is it that we are actually happy one of our players “got away” from our team. To be honest to Joel I don’t think he ever was a Wenger player because he actually has a work ethic and tries to play the game. Wenger doesn’t like players that try because they are a threat to him and his philosophy. Players that try might actually improve the team and make us better but we can’t have that can we. Players that try might make the boss look bad and make it look like he doesn’t know what he is… Read more »
what a load of nonsense, so the manger would not want a player to try hard and play well, only an idiot would believe something like that, but its clear from you post that all you are interested in is having a go at the manager, logic of the argument does not come in to it. guys like you are the sort who want the team to lose, so you can whinge about the manager and the club, and certain players, you know the players who the manager has sent out to not try and not look to play well,… Read more »
You are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine. The question I ask you is this. Last season when Campbell played he showed effort, worked hard and did his job. He wasn’t always perfect but he tried hard. Last season Walcott jumped out of the way of a tackle and then encouraged his fellow players to do the same. This season starts and who is playing on the wing and who just got loaned out?? Please explain to me how else I am supposed to interpret this? How do I understand that a player that tries and… Read more »
you see you are under the misconception that you are right in your belief that jc done more than tw did last year, that 4 goals is better than 9, that jc is more talented than tw. theo would have been crucified for jc’s impact last season, in fact theo is being crucified for far better impact. you don’t know if jc was willing to fight for his place this season or not, maybe he wanted out so he could be in a lesser league where he would be a first choice player. If jc was as good as he… Read more »
Is that you Arsene?
You must be watching different games than the rest of us.
I am under zero misconceptions. When I watch Theo play he is one dimensional and disappears for the majority of games. He leaves his fullback exposed with his inability to track back and puts more pressure on the midfield to cover his spot. Theo can display flashes of finishing brilliance. When I watch Joel play I see someone hustling up and down his wing and putting in a defensive shift. His fullback is able to be more adventurous as Joel will cover for him. Joel can create more as he has better technical ability and some of his passes were… Read more »
Shout out to top gooner – Mo Farah. Well done. You made us proud!
The madness of King Arsene is nothing if not consistent. Campbell is ridiculous but it is not new. Many players have been loaned/sold/ridiculously allowed to leave when they were better than what was at the club at the times. Lehmann, Edu, Pires, Cole, Wiltord, Diarra, Gilberto, (even Bendtner given Chamakh stayed at the time), Reyes. Wenger always says he acts in the best interests of the club. Pah. If so, he’d have ensured some of those players stayed and wouldn’t keep Walcott over Campbell.
Have a lot of respect for Campbell, never seemed to complained about being on the bench or out of the squad. Ultimately he doesn’t fit into our system and it is best for him to leave.
Wenger was saying the squad is too big when asked about signings. Now we are short of a forward, does that mean we will sign a forward? I think we will. Also, I hope Gnabry returns to take a wing position.
Why is the manager persisting with Walcott of Campbell? Why doesn’t anyone question him on this? Is it because Walcott gets paid 140k a week or is it because he can not get rid of another English player to keep in line with the restrictions?
Campbell works harder off the ball and attacks better.
It’s irritating Campbell is having to make way for Gnabry. It’s infuriating to think they both can’t be on the team with no new signings and the team’s injury history.
Walcott should have been sold, while Campbell kept!
Walcott is injury prone, Campbell is not!
Walcott is terrible at football, Campbell isn’t!
Walcott is 27 years old, Campbell is 24!
Walcott doesn’t fight for every ball, Campbell does!
Walcott earns a big freaking paycheck, Campbell doesn’t!
Walcott hasn’t improve in years, Campbell has!
The only positive Walcott has comparing to Campbell is, that he is English and covers a quota of English players, but that shouldn’t really be a problem!
Hit the nail on the head.
Look, we bought a Walcott shirt when he got the number 14. And I wanted a fellow Englishman to succeed. But I’ve seen more in one season of Campbell than a ten of Theo, when averaged out. I guess I don’t understand this decision to loan, nor to put put Theo ahead of Ox and Joel.
I hope I’m wrong. I say that every year
if only i could change the club i support as easily as campbell got out of arsenal.
I liked what I saw from Campbell last season but he obviously had that Park syndrome with the boss.
Hope his Arsenal career is not over.
I’m totally fine with this IF we bring in a wide forward who can lift this team. If we don’t however, then this seems weird.
What is it that Walcott has done in 10 years? Good goals against Chelsea away and Newcastle home. An opener in Carling and FA cup finals. A good run and pass at Anfield. I’m tired of this shit. The way Guardiola is dealing with Hart shows what ruthless vision is needed not just to win games but actually take the board, players and fan base with you. Clough, Fergie did it and Arsene did it in the late 90s. Now we send away a player we chased for a year, who then has not overall disappointed when compare to Bendtner,… Read more »
I think the issue with Walcott has as much to do with the type of CF we may bring in. Should we bring in a player who may need a bit of time to adapt, it may be necessary to keep Walcott for whatever utility he may bring as a back up at least till the Jan window. Currently he is used wide but the Alexis experiment may not work out and there is still some usefulness in retaining the option of pushing Walcott back to the CF role at least as back up should one of Giroud or the… Read more »
Someone explain please!! (Wenger??) *sigh*
Wenger has enjoyed good success ‘sheperding’ the younger players into the first team in recent seasons because we have rebuilt with both experience and quality over the whole team. He placed confidence in Campbell, Coquelin (Iwobi and Bellerin) when most said they were not ‘Arsenal quality’. That said the bar has been raised on the flanks in terms of quality with a number of hungry younger players pushing to break through. Personally I’d keep Campbell over Walcott because for output, Theo doesn’t do as much comparative to price but I suppose Wenger is gambling that he may hit form and… Read more »
First off, I am a big Joel Campbell fan. His value to the squad must be greater than Theo’s when you factor in their wages.
I think if we could have cashed in on Theo this summer we would have but easier said than done with those high wages.
Now, who would you rather hand 30 appearances to this season – Joel or Gnabry? Who has the higher ceiling? If that is the question I know my answer and AFC have made the right decision.
Same people who said Campbell was not Arsenal material now questioning Wenger’s judgement?
Same people who wanted Jenkinson and did not even consider Bellerin.
Same people who said Le Coq should get out while he could.
Oh the irony.:D
The issue as well I think is one of pace. Ox and Gnabry have loads of it, both have excellent close control and can be catalyst provided they make the right decisions. Campbell of course makes good decisions but isn’t quite as pacy with the ball. Iwobi is hard one to predict. His gangly movement is difficult to track at times. I think in terms of age given comparative abilities Campbell has a hard time trying to fend off these 3. So its down to whether one considers him more effective than Walcott and what Theo’s long term future is.… Read more »
Off to bed now, feel free to wake me if we buy a new payer. Goodnight.
It smells like Gnabry is seen to possibly be a future big transfer fee out of the club, and we’re protecting the asset by encouraging him to sign an extension. I’m still not convinced he has a future at arsenal.
Poor Joel, I hope he knows how much respct he earned with his fully committed, leave everything on the pitch performances. He had moments of attacking brilliance last season that electrified games.
If only he were French or British…