Arsenal May Come to Regret Letting Joel Campbell Leave

Joel Campbell leaving Arsenal on loan is nothing new. In his short career, he has now amassed five temporary spells with clubs across the continent.

However, this latest move to join Sporting Lisbon feels particularly significant. After finally making his first-team breakthrough last year, he has been quickly cast aside by Arsene Wenger. Now there is a mounting suspicion that letting the Costa Rican go could be something the Frenchman comes to regret.

It’s not that Campbell is a player of world-class calibre. Arsenal have lost some massive stars in the last decade or so, with the likes of Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie all departing the club.

In relative terms, the loss of Campbell barely registers. He isn’t a starter, let alone a star. 

However, he has proved himself to be an enormously reliable squad player. With Arsenal’s propensity to pick up injuries, it’s essential they have a deep roster of players to call upon. Campbell is someone who provides a good option in a variety of roles and almost always acquits himself well. 

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Campbell had been granted his opportunity by the absence of a number of wide players, and he seized it impressively. Fans anticipated that he would provide a goal threat, but what they did not necessarily expect was the defensive shift that Campbell regularly put in. 

Last season, Wenger spoke in praise of his development. In January, he told Sky Sports:

"

You want to be surprised by the quality of your players and where he surprises you is in the intensity of his teamwork. 

I have the choice on the flank between many players and he is one of the players who has come in at a very sensitive period. I flat-refused to let him go because I saw something in him that gives you belief, because of his attitude.

It is true he had players in front of him and you think, "Can you block a player like that?" But he was four times out on loan. He came back and you think, "Do I let him go out on loan again?"

...

What is very interesting in Campbell's case is that he looks like he has gained more confidence and authority in his game and in the final third he is a dangerous player and he has shown that.

When you look at the player and the number of goals he scores and the number of assists, on that front you must say he has been very positive and he works hard for the team.

"

Wenger did not sound like a manager contemplating letting Campbell go. However, just a month later, the writing was arguably on the wall for the former Deportivo Saprissa man. 

When Arsenal faced Barcelona in February in the UEFA Champions League, Campbell had been on a good run of form and seemed set to earn a place in the starting XI.

Instead, Wenger opted for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had only just returned from injury. The decision to go with the Englishman rather than the in-form Campbell illustrated where Wenger saw him in the pecking order.

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Then, in March, Campbell was withdrawn during a 2-1 defeat against Swansea despite opening the scoring for Wenger's men. The fans expressed their consternation, but the manager stood by his decision.

The truth is that he’s never really been the manager’s man. The fact that he’s been continually sent out on loan, even once he qualified for a European work permit, shows that Wenger has long considered him dispensable.

The unfortunate thing for Campbell is that he operates in a part of the field where there is a huge amount of competition. Although he has played as a central striker, largely at the international level, he is chiefly a wide player.

Wenger has huge faith in Oxlade-Chamberlain. Whenever the Englishman is fit, the Arsenal boss tends to find a way to crowbar him into the starting XI.

However, Oxlade-Chamberlain is not Campbell’s only rival for a place. There’s also Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez and Alex Iwobi to contend with. Then there's Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere—both ostensibly central midfield players who have been forced to the wings by the wealth of competition in the middle of the park.

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The number of players clamouring for a place on the flanks has increased once again this summer. French youngster Jeff Reine-Adelaide has been formally promoted to the senior squad, while Wenger has also welcomed back Serge Gnabry into the fold.

Gnabry endured a miserable loan spell with West Brom last season. After an injury-hit couple of years, he has experienced something of a renaissance this summer in Germany’s silver-medal-winning Olympic campaign.

Gnabry was one of the stars of the tournament in Rio de Janeiro, and Wenger has since restated his belief in the young midfielder. The Gunners boss told Jack Bezants of MailOnline:

"

I want to keep Serge Gnabry and extend his contract. 

I think we stood by him. He went to West Brom, didn't play, we had to rebuild his confidence. I allowed him to go to the Olympics to help Germany. I think he's here now for a long time.

"

If Wenger really wants Gnabry to continue his development in north London, he needs to create room for him in the Arsenal squad. Shipping Campbell out is the obvious way to do so. 

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It’s frustrating for the fans who’ve enjoyed his energetic displays.

At times, the likes of Walcott have looked lifeless. Seeing a player who seems to give his all every time he takes to the field holds a certain novelty for the Emirates Stadium faithful and has endeared the Costa Rican to the supporters. He’s seen as an overachiever in a squad of perennial underachievers.

They could well miss him this season. Gnabry has shown considerable promise but has struggled to convert that into consistent performances. Reine-Adelaide remains an unknown quantity, while the likes of Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain seem destined to be forever dogged by injury and inconsistency. 

Campbell’s move to Sporting Lisbon is technically a loan deal, but it’s difficult to envisage him returning to Arsenal yet again. There are only so many times the manager can make it plain that a player is not part of his plans.

Arsenal have not lost a big name. They’ve not even lost someone who would make their best starting XI. However, they have lost a player who would doubtless have made a useful contribution in what could prove to be a gruelling campaign.

At a time when the club still require attacking reinforcements, letting the competent Campbell go looks like a considerable misstep.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout 2016/17. Follow him on Twitter here.