Ex-player claims Arsenal have ‘dodged a bullet’ as Barca star is ‘frustrating’

Kevin Campbell believes Arsenal have “dodged a bullet” with Ousmane Dembele as he is “just as frustrating as he is brilliant”.

The Barcelona winger’s contract is set to expire this summer. They were desperate to sell him during the January transfer window but a deal did not come to fruition.

It was revealed on Tuesday that the player turned down ‘two good offers’ to leave last month. 

Dembele, Barcelona, excess and falling upwards to PSG

Barcelona paid an initial fee of around £87m to sign Dembele from Borussia Dortmund in 2017.

The 24-year-old has struggled with injuries over the past couple of years and he has only scored once this season.

Campbell has told Football Insider that he does not think Arsenal need Dembele:

“Arsenal dodged a bullet there. I don’t think they need Dembele. On his day he can be devastating but his injury record is worrying. I have watched him a lot in Spain and while he is a brilliant player, he can be just as frustrating.

“We have already got a similar player in Pepe. He can be devastating on his day but can equally be frustrating. We need players who are consistent.

“The Dembele move didn’t work out but in all honesty, I think it was for the best.”

Elsewhere, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was “happy to accept any payment” to leave Arsenal for Barcelona on deadline day:

“This whole affair has been relayed to us almost minute-by-minute by the Barca president Joan Laporta, who is at a Mundo Deportivo awards event. Laporta is in the business of giving hope to the fans and has been describing the situation as it unfolds.

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