Thursday, 18th September, 2014
Arsenal forward Joel Campbell feels that his loan spell at Greek champions Olympiacos helped make him the player that he is today.
The Costa Rican spent the last season on loan to Olympiacos and scored eleven goals in 43 appearances for the club, forming the view that the Piraeus-based side unleashed him.
He was a regular fixture in the Greek side and famously scored against Arsenal’s English rivals Manchester United in last season’s Champions League.
The Costa Rican feels that playing regular football, especially in the Champions League, accelerated his development as a player, putting him in a good place upon his return to Arsenal.
"I started regularly the whole season and I played Champions League football”, Campbell told Arsenal's official site.
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“That made me the player I am. Even though I still have several aspects to improve I think I am heading in the right direction. Right now I feel great and ready.”
The youngster spent time on loan at Spanish side Real Betis before his Olympiacos spell and was a regular in La Liga too.
However, he feels his time in Greece unshackled the chains on him and he got the opportunity to express himself at the club with more freedom, which made him a better player.
“At Olympiacos I felt confident enough to do the things that I do best, whereas at Betis I felt a bit inhibited. I was very young and I preferred not to take risks such as dribbling or shooting.
“But at Olympiacos I unchained myself. The manager there gave me the freedom to play and I felt important. That was reflected in my game.”
Campbell has made only two senior appearances for Arsenal, but he has already earned 40 international caps for Costa Rica.
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