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Joel Campbell’s Arsenal career starts now
By Josh Sippie
Joel Campbell has fallen into the shadows at Arsenal. After making a wonderful showing in the 2014 World Cup to lead Costa Rica to the most improbable of runs, a lot was expected of the now 23 year old forward. He was given a few spot chances for the Gunners to begin last season but gradually faded from being chosen before being sent off on loan to Villareal, where he may not have scored many goals, but he put up some strong performances, helping Villareal earn a spot in the Europa League.
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Since then, it has been all silent on the Joel Campbell front.
We can all agree that the kid has talent. He possesses great pace, dribbling skills and has good goal-scoring instincts as well, but the question remains of whether or not he can deliver at the Arsenal level. However, without being given the proper chance, it is hard to tell.
Italian side Palermo have been keen on acquiring the services of Joel Campbell, but they have found negotiating with Wenger to be a most undesirable proposition.
“I’m here in London to try a final drive for the player, but Arsenal aren’t moving from their initial positions. Campbell is unattainable as of now. If some margins open up for a negotiation then all for the better, otherwise we can’t do anything,” Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini said via talkSPORT.
That bodes well from Arsenal’s point of view, because as Arsene Wenger said through the team site, he still values Joel Campbell and rates him very highly, so it only makes sense that he would stick to his guns in terms of getting a fair price. Plus, if he does not plan on selling him than he has no reason to settle for less than he wants.
Arsenal need to have a good long League and FA Cup run to give Joel Campbell plenty of opportunities to play. With just about every single youth product of promise in this Arsenal system being loaned out, that clears the way for Joel Campbell to be a central figure in those match-ups.
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Campbell has enough talent on his own to spark Arsenal to some cup success in the lesser competitions, but he cannot do it completely by himself. Without the likes of Serge Gnabry, Gedion Zelalem or that mass of youngsters that normally fit into the League Cup squad, Campbell will likely find himself alongside some potential first team Arsenal guys like Mikel Arteta, Danny Welbeck and Mathieu Debuchy. He has to use this to his advantage and prove to Wenger that he can hang with the big dogs.
With the progression of Arsenal to where they are now, you have to imagine that Joel Campbell will not have that many more opportunities to prove that he is worth hanging on to. The squad is becoming more and more sound and they cannot keep affording guys the same chances they have in the past.
The time is now for Joel Campbell.
Next: Arsenal's quiet transfer window no cause for concern