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Joel Campbell’s Arsenal Career Served Up On Silver Platter
By Josh Sippie
Sometimes it is a good therapuetic exercise to find the good in a bad situation. With Arsenal, that is always a good therapeutic exercise. Bad things just like to hang around. Arsenal did not sign anyone at the transfer deadline. That is a bad thing. Arsene Wenger has faith in this squad. That is a good thing.
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The latest bad thing spirals off of the previous: Danny Welbeck is hurt until Christmas. Why is this bad? We are left with Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott as out only striking options. Arsene Wenger holds to the fact that no one that could have benefited the squad was available, despite his failed attempt to sign Simone Zaza. So Arsenal are in dire straits.
Enter Joel Campbell.
Conspicuously held onto this transfer window due to the fact that he apparently still has a career to salvage at Arsenal, the young Costa Rican forward now has the chance and the materials necessary to salvage that career.
Arsenal are involved in four competitions this year and it goes without saying that Giroud and Walcott will not be able to even split the responsibilities across the four competitions. Arsenal are going to need another attacking option and with Chuba Akpom out on loan and Joel Campbell with the first team, there are literally no more excuses to put off using Campbell.
Campbell had a stellar 2014 World Cup as he spearheaded the darlings of the competition to an improbable run. Many pegged last season as the year that he would break out. However, Campbell was given very little opportunity, appearing just 4 times and while he did not become a liability, he did not stand out either.
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That being said, he still deserves more of a look than what he has been given. Lo and behold, he shall now be given that look. Campbell is well aware of his limited opportunities and will do all he can to impress with what he is given. There is a reason whey Wenger signed him in the first place, he just has to remind Le Prof of those reasons.
Joel Campbell has showcased excellent pace and agility at the national level and it seems to be only a matter of time and confidence before he can showcase those same talents at the club level. Of course it does not always pan out that way, but at least now we will be able to see if he has what it takes to compete at this level of club football.
Or at least that is the idea. Arsene Wenger has been reluctant to play the Costa Rican in the past so hopefully he can shake that reluctance in the future. It’s not like he is going to have much choice.
Next: Wenger Ruing Akpom Loan?