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SAN JOSE, CA - JULY 28: Joel Campbell #28 of Arsenal FC kicks the ball up field against the MLS All-Stars during the first half of the AT&T MLS All-Star Game at Avaya Stadium on July 28, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA - JULY 28: Joel Campbell #28 of Arsenal FC kicks the ball up field against the MLS All-Stars during the first half of the AT&T MLS All-Star Game at Avaya Stadium on July 28, 2016 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Joel Campbell to Sporting Lisbon: Latest Loan Details, Comments, Reaction

Timothy Rapp
Aug 21, 2016

Arsenal winger Joel Campbell has joined Sporting Lisbon on a season-long loan, according to Arsenal.com and the Sporting Lisbon Twitter account.

Campbell reacted to his move to Portugal, per the club:

The Costa Rica international made 30 appearances for Arsenal last season, scoring four goals.

For the 24-year-old, it's his fifth loan spell since joining the Gunners in 2011, as Arsenal previously sent him toย Lorient, Real Betis, Olympiakos and Villarreal. The move didn't come as much of a surprise, however, as he wasn't in the team's squad for either of their opening Premier League matches this year.

Despite Arsenal's well-documented need for an elite striker, the team does not lack depth on the wings. Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott should be the starters on the left and right this season, respectively, while the team also has Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Serge Gnabry at its disposal, and Alex Iwobi and Danny Welbeck when they return from injury.

Additionally,ย manager Arsene Wenger has usedย the injured Aaron Ramsey out wide, as well as Jack Wilshere. So Campbell would have faced an uphill battle to see the pitch, though a rash of injuries conspired to give him 19 Premier League appearances a year ago.ย 

Still, Kevin Palmer of theย Sunday Worldย suspects Wenger wasn't terribly keen on Campbell:

For Campbell, he has the opportunity to play Champions League football this season, after Sporting Lisbon finished second in the table in Portugal a year ago.

And it may be another indication to Campbell that his future doesn't reside at the Emirates Stadiumโ€”barring a monster season for Sporting Lisbonโ€”so long as Wenger is calling the shots.

You can follow Timothyย Rappย onย Twitter.

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