Sporting Lisbon sign Arsenal forward Joel Campbell on season-long loan deal

Arsenal have allowed Joel Campbell to join Primeira Liga title contenders Sporting Clube de Portugal. The Costa Rican forward moves to Estadio Jose Alvalade on a season-long loan deal having failed to make Arsene Wenger's matchday squad for the Gunners' opening 2016/17 Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and Leicester City.

Campbell is certainly no stranger to loan moves, having previously been dispatched for stints with Lorient, Real Betis, Olympiacos and Villarreal since moving to English football from Deportivo Saprissa as a teenager in 2011.

He remained at the Emirates Stadium for the entirety of last season, however, scoring three goals in 19 top-flight appearances before falling out of favour completely despite the club's clear need for reinforcements up front.

"Joel Campbell will join Portuguese Primeira Liga side Sporting Lisbon on a season-long loan," Arsenal confirmed via a statement on their official website.

"The forward will be hoping he can help the Portuguese side win the Primeira after their second-placed finish last year and gain further Champions League experience. Everyone at Arsenal wishes Joel a successful season in Portugal. The move is subject to international clearance and formal ratification."

With Campbell's short-term future now resolved, another striker set to bid a temporary farewell to Arsenal is Takuma Asano.

The 21-year-old, who has recently been on international duty with Japan's U23 side at the Olympic Games in Rio, was only signed from J League outfit Sanfrecce Hiroshima for £5m ($6.5m) in July, yet is not eligible to represent his new club this season after failing to secure a work permit.

"We got the work permit turned down because he didn't cost £50m, that's one of the rules that you have to know in England," said a disgruntled Wenger at a post-match press conference held after Saturday's (20 August) goalless draw in the East Midlands. "Therefore, he has to go and play somewhere else. He will play I hope in France or in Germany. I believe highly in him and I will take care of him that he gets to the right place."

The manager is under significant pressure from impatient supporters to loosen the purse strings and invest in a new top centre-back and striker before the transfer deadline.