Arsene Wenger has hailed the emergence of Joel Campbell after his goal helped Arsenal to a 3-1 FA Cup win over Sunderland.

The Costa Rican star hasn’t had it easy at the Emirates, needing loans spells to earn a work permit and struggling to force his way into the first-team last season.

Now, though, the 23-year-old, who has been handed a run in Wenger’s starting XI thanks to injures, is improving and impressing.

And his French boss congratulated him on his recent displays, which have also been praised by fans.

Wenger said: “He’s getting stronger in every game. He makes me think about Francis Coquelin last year. Nobody expected him and suddenly he knocked on the door and said, ‘hey, my friends, I’m here.’

“What I like is you see the way he plays, he has more certainty in his game, more assurance in the final third and he scores goals.”