SHARE
Arsenal

 

By ’Tayo Amosu

August 19, 2014

Arsenal and Costa Rican forward, Joel Campbell has admitted that he dreamed of playing for Arsenal since watching Thierry Henry play for the club.

The Daily Mail reports that Arsene Wenger look set to give the 22-year-old player a vital role to play this 2014/2015 football season as the player revealed that the French gaffer has told him that he wants the player to be part of his plans for the new season despite recent reports suggesting the forward could be on his way to Italian giants AC Milan for £16m or even Galatasaray on loan.

Campbell, who seem to be living his dream presently expressed his readiness and desperation to stamp his mark at the North London club and will be looking to do it this season.

The Arsenal forward, who spent last season on loan to Greek giants Olympiacos, speaking to reporters said:

‘‘I’ve always dreamed of playing for Arsenal since I was a young kid watching Thierry Henry. The manager has told me he wants me to be part of his plans and not send me on loan again- now I want to repay his faith’’.

The 22-year-old had previously spent his first 2 seasons out on loan at Lorient and Real Betis respectively and has not yet made his debut for Arsenal since he joined in 2011, initially due to work permit issues, which was finally resolved in July 2013.

The player scored 3 times for Lorient in his one year spell at the club, went to Real Betis where he appeared 28 times for the club and scored two times.

By far the best loan stint he had was in Olympiacos, where he grabbed assists and a few goals in the Greek League and the European Champions’ League.

For Costa Rica, he has earned over 35 caps and was a star performer at the just concluded 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Campbell plays as a forward but can also be deployed on the wings.

However, to contend with in the Arsenal squad, he has wingers like Sanchez, Podolski and Cazorla on the left; Walcott and Chamberlain on the right; and forwards like Sanchez, Podolski, Giroud and even Yaya Sanogo.

After a good showing at the 2014 edition of the Emirates Cup, getting a goal and two assists in the 5-1 victory over Portuguese Champions, Benfica and two cameo appearances as substitute in the 0-1 loss to Monaco and 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City, Campbell ascension and status as an Arsenal regular is in no doubt.

But the recent spate of links to the Italian giant and Turkish heavyweights, AC Milan and Galatasaray casted some shadows on his success at Arsenal this season.

Campbell, who sat out the 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace as an unused substitute, finished his comments with an assurance of his future at Arsenal by saying: ‘‘Here, I’m Joel who? No one really knows who I am. But, hopefully, very soon everybody will know who I am- as that will mean I’ve done really well for Arsenal’’.

Joel Campbell may have shown what he is capable of doing on the pitch of play, but his Arsenal future, according to him will be blissful for the fans as he looks to attain a legendary status before he finally leaves the club.

 

LEAVE A REPLY