For all of its modern trends and techniques, football is still a tribal sport. Not many sports can derive the passion and the emotion experienced by football players and fans alike over the course of a single game. For all the money in the game right now, there are still some things that never change. Whether it is the elation on a fan’s face after winning a cup or the glee that comes after signing an A-list star, some things have stood the test of time and have remained the same.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, both those aforementioned emotions have been few and far between in the last decade. Before the start of last season, not only did they not win a trophy for almost a decade, they had also not signed too many superstars in those times. Instead, coach Arsene Wenger has taken pride in blooding in youngsters and building a team, rather than a bunch of individuals.
Whether it is bringing young players through the academy or signing starlets from all corners of the globe thanks to their vast scouting system, Arsenal have been one of the few clubs in top-flight football to consistently give the youth a chance. Last year, Wenger finally reaped the rewards of his plan as Arsenal won the FA Cup. Not only did they win a trophy, but also displayed tremendous mental fortitude throughout the season.
The winds of change are certainly blowing through the Emirates and Arsenal look set to start the 2014/15 season with renewed hope. The imminent arrival of Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez means that for the second time in as many seasons, Wenger has signed a world class forward from Spain. It was Mesut Ozil last year and it looks like it will be Alexis Sanchez this time around. Irrespective of when that deal goes through, Arsenal fans already have plenty to cheer about.
While the prospect of signing a world-class forward is no doubt special, it can’t hold a candle to the joy of seeing a young player, coming through the ranks and making a name for himself. For it is not the money spent on a player that matters, but the joy the player brings to the crowd that does.
One young player on whom Arsenal have high hopes this season is 21-year-old Costa Rican striker Joel Campbell. Three years after signing for the club, the striker is looking to make his mark on the club and prove that Wenger did the right thing by bringing him back. One of the reasons why many Arsenal fans are excited about him is that he is very different to what Arsenal have right now.
While Arsenal don’t lack skillful midfielders, what they do lack is a quick, powerful and versatile striker who is good, both with and without the ball. There aren’t too many forwards in world football, who fit into Arsenal’s style of play, but the Costa Rican striker is one of them. Although he hasn’t played in England and might take some time to get used to his surroundings, loaning him out to other Premier League clubs wouldn’t be a good move for Arsenal.
Going out on loan, particularly to an English club would no doubt improve him immensely. But the fact that he is only now returning from a three one-year loan spells with three different clubs means that he might be unwilling to go out on loan once again. It might also give him the indication that he might not be wanted at the club, which would mean that the club run the risk of losing him permanently.
Not only does it undermine the player’s quality, when he has on several occasions shown that he is ready to play for Arsenal, but it also deprives the Gunners of a different threat going forward. One of the reasons why his return was welcomed by the Gunners was because his arrival will no doubt save the club, plenty of cash that they would have otherwise spent on a striker.
If Arsenal don’t sign another striker, sending him out on loan would send out the wrong signal to the striker. And even if the Gunners do sign one, they are better off keeping him at the club and showing him that they do care about him, instead of sending him out on loan for the fourth straight season.
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