Kevin Campbell has suggested that Nuno Tavares’ time at Arsenal is already up and that’s why they want to bring in Lisandro Martinez this summer, as he told the Highbury Squad.
The former striker added there is ‘no messing’ from Arsenal and Mikel Arteta learnt a lot from Tavares last season because ‘he wasn’t quite there’ when the chips were down.
Arsenal paid Benfica £8 million for Tavares’ talents (Sky Sports), but whilst he started off life in north London in a strong fashion, during the second half of the campaign, he struggled.
Ajax defender, Martinez, is a player being tipped to join the Gunners this summer, with Manchester United also in the race for the Argentina international.
But Campbell can see Tavares leaving on-loan, as he joked about someone paying £45 million for the player, before touching upon Martinez coming in as a possible replacement.
“We probably do loan him out,” said Campbell. “Or, if somebody is willing to pay £45 million, then they could buy him.
“I think what Mikel Arteta learnt last season is that you learn a lot when the chips are down. When things are going good, okay great.
“But you learn more from adversity and when the adversity came for Nuno, he wasn’t quite there. He’s young, but at the end of the day, Arsenal can’t afford to be waiting too long.
“Hence why Martinez, Arsenal are hell-bent on getting someone who can come in and do the job now. No messing.”
TAVARES DESERVES ANOTHER CHANCE
Whilst Tavares struggled for periods last season, he did show promise on occasions, and he wasn’t the only one whose form didn’t show as they missed out on Champions League football.
Plus, he is only 22 and there is no point in the north London club investing in youngsters if you are going to part ways with them 12 months later.
The Gunners had the youngest average age squad out of all the Premier League teams last season, as much-needed proven talent and experience is required.
If that’s added, then someone like Tavares can feed off that, as well as being given the chance to learn from his mistakes from last term.
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