Arsene Wenger: It's 'Now or Never' for Joel Campbell at Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has declared that the time for Joel Campbell to stake his claim for a future at the club is "now or never" after injuries to both Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey have presented the Costa Rican with a rare opportunity.

Campbell has been conspicuously absent from Wenger's plans over the last few years, despite impressing out on loan and then showcasing his ability for Costa Rica at the 2014 World Cup.

However, speaking to the media ahead of the weekend fixture against Swansea, Wenger said of Campbell, "I have been very impressed with him, his attitude is outstanding. He can be a big help for us. In the coming two to three months he can be very important."

The 23-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Villarreal as part of the deal that brought Gabriel Paulista to north London in January and only has two Capital One Cup starts and two Champions League cameos to show for efforts so far in 2015/16.

Since joining Arsenal from Deportivo Saprissa in 2011, Campbell has also been loaned out to Lorient, Real Betis and Olympiacos. But that's not a road the Gunners boss wants to keep going down.

"I didn't want to send him out on loan again," Wenger explained. "I wanted to keep him here. He has been on loan two or three times and that it is now or never for him with us.

"For him, as well, you belong to a club. But if you go out on loan a few times, after that you don't know any more if you belong to the club or not."

Capable of playing up front or as an advanced wide forward, Campbell should in theory have a chance to impress over the course of the next month while Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ramsey, all of whom have played wide right this season, are nursing various injuries.