Kevin Campbell has claimed that Dani Ceballos will be ‘nothing but a squad player’ if he winds up joining Arsenal on a permanent basis this summer.
This is the Spain international’s second season-long loan in North London from Real Madrid but Ceballos has a bit more impressing to do.
The 24-year-old played a big role in Arsenal winning the FA Cup last August but for whatever reason, Mikel Arteta doesn’t fancy him as much this season.
So far, the Real midfielder has started only 11 of the Gunners’ 24 Premier League games during the 2020-21 campaign.
According to The Sun, Arteta wants to keep Ceballos at the Emirates Stadium for the long term, but former Arsenal hitman and Sky Sports pundit Campbell can’t see him ever becoming a mainstay in the North Londoners’ best XI.
He told The Blind Gooner podcast: “As for Ceballos I think the jury’s out. Look, I just think Ceballos is going to be a squad player. If they are going to sign him, I think he’ll be nothing but a squad player. And at £20 million, that’s not big money for a squad player, but I do believe Mikel Arteta needs an athletic partner in that midfield for Thomas Partey.”
Is Campbell right? Probably.
Granit Xhaka has his critics but Arteta is a big fan and long term, the plan will be to pair the Swiss star in midfield with Thomas Partey, fitness permitting.
Further forward, Arsenal have Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard – also on loan from Real – as number 10 options and there just doesn’t seem to be much room for Ceballos as a regular.
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