Joel Campbell to get Arsenal chance
Costa Rica striker Joel Campbell will be given the chance to earn a place in the Arsenal squad next season.
- Atkins: Campbell soups up Costa Rica's hopes
Campbell, 21, has been owned by the Gunners since 2011 but did not qualify for a UK work permit until 2013 and has spent the last three seasons on loan at Lorient, Real Betis and Olympiakos.
He starred in his country's shock 3-1 World Cup win over Uruguay, scoring one goal and setting up another, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that he would now get a belated opportunity at the Emirates Stadium.
"He will definitely come back to us for preseason," Wenger told the Daily Mail. "He is maturing well."
Wenger released one striker, Nicklas Bendtner, at the end of last season and only has two out-and-out centre-forwards in his current squad -- top scorer Olivier Giroud and youngster Yaya Sanogo, who has yet to find the net.
Campbell, who has struck 10 times in 34 caps for his country, helped Olympiakos reach the last 16 of the Champions League last season, scoring in their 2-0 home win against Manchester United.
And he said he hoped to make his mark in England, telling the Times: "I have worked hard every day at Olympiakos, like I did at Lorient and Betis. Of course I would like to play in the Premier League, but right now I am focused on the World Cup."
