Sanogo, Campbell 'gunner' stay on

BLOSSOMING: Arsenal's Yaya Sanogo
BLOSSOMING: Arsenal's Yaya Sanogo

LONDON - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Yaya Sanogo and Joel Campbell would be given chances to shine this season after both youngsters impressed in the 5-1 friendly demolition of Benfica.

Sanogo, a 2013 signing from Auxerre, scored four times in Saturday's Emirates Cup encounter, while Campbell, who has spent the last three seasons out on loan, scored once and supplied one assist.

"Football surprises you always. Not only you, but me as well," Wenger said at the Emirates Stadium.

"Sanogo was injured for basically two years before he came to us. If you look at his goalscoring record before he got injured, it is quite frightening.

"For a while when he came back last season, he could not score. But I think it was a mental block. You could see when he scored the first goal today [Saturday], suddenly they can rain in. He has a big future here, of course."

Campbell, 22, joined Arsenal in 2011, but work-permit issues saw him loaned out to Lorient, Real Betis and Olympiakos.

The left-footed forward caught the eye with Costa Rica at the World Cup in Brazil, and Wenger heralded his display against the Portuguese champions.

"I like the way he plays. He's good on the ball and he's creative and collective as well." - AFP

 

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