Arsene Wenger ‘flat-refused’ to let ‘special’ Arsenal player go, but he forced his Emirates exit anyway

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Arsene Wenger watched a lot of his star players leave Arsenal in search of a higher level, but one departed for other reasons.

From Alexis Sanchez and Robin van Persie joining Manchester United, to Thierry Henry signing for Barcelona to fulfil his dream of winning the Champions League, Arsenal have experienced their fair share of transfer heartache.

Wenger oversaw some controversial transfers in his time, not only regarding Arsenal icons but also some of those who fell under the radar.

The Arsenal squad of 2015/16 was littered with stars, including Mesut Ozil and Sanchez; however, from that specific group of players, it was another figure that Wenger was desperate not to lose. 

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Arsene Wenger was desperate to keep Joel Campbell at Arsenal 

In 2011, Arsenal signed Joel Campbell for a fee just under £1m, acquiring the forward from Costa Rican side Deportivo Saprissa at the age of 19.

The winger spent seven years at Arsenal before making a permanent transfer, remarkably only making 40 appearances for the Gunners in that time. 

The 2015/16 season was a memorable one for Campbell, who was given an opportunity in the Premier League squad, recording 19 appearances, contributing to six goals. 

In January of 2016, Wenger revealed that he’d refused a loan opportunity for the Costa Rican, sharing a glowing review of the player he so desperately wanted to keep at the Emirates.

“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?

“I thought always the attitude was there, but after Olympiakos, in a game where we had a knife on the throat, he turned up with something special.”

Wenger understood that there were chances of another loan available to the winger, but the boss had seen something from the player that made his exit unimaginable.

The Frenchman’s comments were made in January, and regrettably, from that moment until the end of the season, Campbell was awarded only four Premier League starts.

Campbell knew he had to leave Arsenal 

After that year, Campbell never represented Arsenal again, leaving to join Sporting CP on loan in the summer of 2016. 

A loan at Real Betis followed before his permanent exit was sanctioned in 2019, signing for Italian side Frosinone.

Upon leaving to join Sporting, Campbell spoke to Costa Rican newspaper Nacion, revealing why he didn’t ‘feel comfortable’ staying at Arsenal.

“When I realised I was not going to play as much as I wanted I thought it would be better to go on loan. In reality going on loan has been my request.

“I have ambition, I want to play, and I love football. Truth is I don’t feel comfortable not playing every Sunday. I don’t want to settle for less,” he said.

Campbell continued to admit that Wenger wanted him to stay, but his mind was already made up.

“Another person could stay at Arsenal, have a good wage, live in a nice city and not playing, but I prefer to leave comfort aside and fight for my dreams. I want to prove I have what is needed to play the game.

“The coach told me he would have liked me to stay, but playing is my priority and if I’m not 100% on his plans then I prefer to go on loan and play football.”

Arsenal fans were shocked to see Campbell playing against Brazil only last summer for his country, as he currently represents Costa Rican club LD Alajuelense.