Joel Campbell is this season's Francis Coquelin, says Arsene Wenger as Arsenal prepare new contract for forward
- Joel Campbell arrived at Arsenal in 2011 but waited three years for debut
- The Costa Rica international is set to be offered new deal after impressing
- Campbell had caught the eye of Benfica, Galatasaray and Real Sociedad
Joel Campbell is this year's Francis Coquelin, according to Arsene Wenger, who persuaded the Costa Rican striker not to quit last year and is preparing to offer him a new Arsenal contract.
Campbell was keen to move in the summer and sparked intrigue when he posted a photograph of his passport on Twitter in August, hours before the transfer window closed.
Big European clubs including Benfica, Rennes, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Real Socieded and Celta Vigo were all interested. Some of them remain interested but the Arsenal boss convinced him to stick around for a few more months and is set to offer a deal in a bid to keep him at the Emirates Stadium when his contract expires at the end of the season.
Joel Campbell is set to be rewarded with a new contract after being persuading to stay with Arsenal
The Costa Rica international has caught the eye of big European clubs including Benfica and Galatasaray
Arsenal boss Wenger has compared Campbell's situation to that of Francis Coquelin who took his chance
'I refused to let him go because I saw something in him that gives you belief, because of his attitude,' said Wenger. 'It is true he had players in front of him, and you think: Can you block a player like that?
'But he was four times out on loan. You think: Do I let him go out on loan again? I explained the situation to him and said: "Let's have a go and see where we stand in January". It's a bit similar to Coquelin.'
Coquelin made a huge impact last season when an injury crisis prompted a recall from a loan at Charlton, and went on to become one of Wenger's key midfielders.
Campbell, 23, joined Arsenal from Deportivo Saprissa in 2011. It would be three years before his debut and four before he started in the Barclays Premier League.
Campbell arrived in north London in 2011 but had to wait three years to make his debut for the Gunners
His breakthrough has been aided by injuries to Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but he has played 18 times and scored three and is expected to keep him place for Wednesday's game at Liverpool.
The manager believes his display in a must-win Champions League tie at Olympiakos last month - when he set-up Olivier Giroud for the second in a 3-0 win - proved a turning point.
'I always thought the attitude was there,' said Wenger. 'But after the Olympiakos games where we had a knife on the throat, he turned up with something special.
Campbell's display in the must-win clash against Olympiakos proved to Wenger he could cope with pressure
'That was massive for us. And then I thought he could play under pressure as well, and that is important for us.
'He came in at a very sensitive period. What is interesting in Campbell's case is that he looks like he has gained more confidence and authority. In the final third, he is a dangerous players, and he has shown that.
'He has surprised me. You want to be surprised by the quality of your players. Where he surprises you is in the intensity of his team-work. When you look at the goals and assists, you must say he has been a very positive and he works hard for the team.'
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