Arsene Wenger: Now or never for Joel Campbell

Arsene Wenger feels it is “now or never” for Joel Campbell to make it at Arsenal. The 23-year-old Costa Rica forward is set for his first Premier League start of the season at Swansea today following injury to England duo Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the midweek Capital One Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

Campbell joined the Gunners in August 2011 from Deportivo Saprissa, but spent campaigns on loan at Lorient and Real Betis as he waited for a work permit, then headed to Olympiacos and last year a spell at Villarreal before returning to London.

Gunners boss Wenger resisted the temptation to allow the forward more time away from the Emirates, but accepts Campbell is entering a crucial stage of his Arsenal career. “I wanted to keep him here, I felt he has been on loan two or three times and that it is now or never for him with us,” said Wenger. “For him, as well, you belong to a club, you go one time out, two times out then after that you don’t know any more if you belong to the club or not.”