Arsene Wenger reveals club received loan offers throughout the summer
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed the club rejected several loan offers for forward Joel Campbell throughout the summer.
The Costa Rican international enjoyed a successful loan spell away with Olympiakos a couple of seasons ago, before shining at the World Cup in Brazil last summer.
However, he was then sent away in January of last season to La Liga side Villarreal after failing to impress Wenger back in North London.
It was believed Campbell would leave the club permanently over the summer, but the forward remained at the Emirates Stadium and is now getting some playing-time due to the mass amount of injuries currently at the club.
Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have both been out in recent weeks, as has Aaron Ramsey, who is another option for the wing.
Now with Alexis Sanchez injured too, Campbell has an even better chance of playing regular first-team football, but all could have been different for the 23-year-old.
Rejected Offers
Wenger has confirmed that he turned back several offers for the Costa Rican throughout the summer as he felt he would be needed during the campaign.
“This season I did not want to give him out because he has a genuine team attitude and he is a fighter,” the Gunners boss said.
“We had offers to loan him out but I am very keen to keep him here.”
“Now he has his chance and it is up to him to take it. He is doing well. He is giving me selection headaches.
“What did I smell? I felt this to be his time. He’s so much like Sanchez in attitude.
“When a guy who comes from Costa Rica at a very young age has a long learning process. So I loaned him out. He had learned how hard it is at the top level and now he’s ready.”
