Arsenal have sent several stars out on loan this season. Here are four who have been performing overseas.
How have they done? Will we see them at the Emirates next season?
Joel Campbell
Loan club – Lorient, France.
Age – 19
Costa Rican forward Joel Campbell was signed by Arsenal at a bargain price last summer of £950,000, but his dreams of playing at the Emirates were held up by failure to secure a work permit. He was subsequently loaned out to France, and in that time he has become a star for Costa Rica’s national team, scoring against World Champions Spain, and Wales, which will help his case when it comes to a work permit next season.
His time at Lorient has been mixed, playing up front making 10 starts, 14 substitute appearances, and scoring three goals. It is his first European club so the main benefits will have been the experience, while Lorient are just one point above the relegation zone so not too much should be read into a relative lack of goals.
A loan move is most likely for Campbell again next season, but Arsenal will try to get a work permit secured and introduce him to the club properly for six months before loaning him out in January to a Premier League team.
Denilson
Age: 24
Loan club: Sao Paolo, Brazil.
Midfielder Denilson was once rated highly at the Emirates after breaking into the first team at a young age, but as time went on fans became disenchanted at his lack of progress and he only made six starts in 2010/11. He was expected to be sold, but ended up going on loan back to his native Brazil for a year with Sao Paolo.
He has not had a brilliant season in his homeland, not one which has made the club keen to sign him, making 18 appearances without a goal. He stated in an interview at the end of last month he expects to return to Arsenal in June, and tried to put a positivie spin on his season stating “I have not been sent off.” He has a contract which expires next summer, and it would make sense for Arsenal to sell him now, especially as he has lost his number 15 shirt to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and the multitude of options available to Arsene Wenger in central midfield.
If you want a video of Denilson spraying short passes around for Sao Paolo, below is perfect for you…
Carlos Vela
Age: 23
Loan club: Real Sociedad, Spain.
Mexican attacker Carlos Vela is one of the most frustrating figures at Arsenal in recent times. It is clear to anyone who has seen him play that he is supremely gifted, but he has never been able to make an impact at the club when it matters. This is his fourth loan spell, and probably his last considering how keen Sociedad are to sign him permanently, with other La Liga teams also interested.
He has had a terrific season for the club, scoring 12 goals in 28 starts, including some spectacular hits. You can’t help but wonder if Arsenal could have done with him this season, considering how thin they have been in attacking cover for Van Persie and Gervinho at the African Nations Cup, but that ship has sailed. He is still just 23 and will go onto to have a successful career, but it will probably be elsewhere unless the club have a last minute change of heart.
Wellington Silva
Age: 19
Club: Alcoyano, Spain.
Teenage playmaker Wellington is on his second loan spell of the season, with Spanish second division strugglers Alcoyano. He had previously been with La Liga high fliers Levante, but struggled, making just two appearances and the loan was terminated in October. While it has been a step down a level, it has at least got him playing regular football which is the idea after all.
He scored on his debut, and has scored a total of three goals in seven starts, plus eight substitute appearances, and the move has clearly been good for him. The challenge now is for him to show it has made him a better player. Like Campbell, he can expect another loan move next year, but it may be that he goes on loan to a Premier League club in January like Miyaichi with Bolton, if Wenger feels he is ready for the step up.
This video of his tricks, flicks, and goals is well worth a watch…
image: © wonker
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
