Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Costa Rican striker Joel Campbell will stay with the club beyond the January transfer window.
The 22 year old played the full 90 minutes in the Champions League game against Galatasaray, but has not started a single Premier League game this season and his future at the club has come under intense speculation due to his lack of game time.
The French manager failed to comment on whether Lukas Podolski will remain at the North London club, but did confirm that Campbell is not going anywhere any time soon.
Speaking to Arsenal's official website, he said:
Campbell will stay with us.
(When asked about Podolski he said)It is a competition for places that is difficult. I had Welbeck, Sanchez and Giroud at home and you can only play a certain number of strikers. He came back later from the World Cup but he is now coming back to a very strong level.
The youngster hasn't been featuring regularly for the Gunners due to the surplus of talent they posses in the attacking department and with Wenger preferring to play Sanogo ahead of the Costa Rican in some of the matches lead to some suggestions that he doesn't have any future at the Emirates. However the statement suggests that Wenger has long term plans for Campbell and doesn't feel a loan move would be beneficial to either the player or the club.
He was very impressive during the World Cup and impressed many with his big game performances. However Wenger doesn't seem to rate him that highly as yet and he just might be right as the youngster showed with his performance against Galatasaray that he is still very raw. He is definitely a bright prospect for the future, but he is just not there yet.
Coming to the Podolski situation, the French boss hasn't confirmed anything yet but reports suggest that he might leave in the January transfer window. He is a frustrated figure at the Emirates and hasn't been afforded many opportunities to prove his worth, however as he proved against Galatasaray that he still has it in him to make an impact at the highest level.
The age has been catching up with him and there have been occasions where his impact faded as the games went on, but when his left foot alone is enough to twin you some games, it's always better to have someone of his stature on your team. Hopefully Wenger will realise this and give him the chances he deserves.
Should Wenger give Podolski more chances?
