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Arsenal Hurt By Arsene Wenger’s Lack Of Faith In Joel Campbell
Arsene Wenger seems diametrically opposed to trusting Joel Campbell. His lack of faith in the Costa Rican has cost Arsenal points, as well as players.
Joel Campbell has had a tough time since arriving at Arsenal in 2011. Visa issues and several subsequent loan spells forced Campbell out of the picture at the Emirates. Many believed that it would be best for the youngster if he was allowed to leave and chase first team football elsewhere. Instead, Arsene Wenger stated time and again that Campbell had a part to play in the North London outfit. Now however it seems that the manager has not been completely honest. His clear distrust of Campbell on the football pitch has done a great disservice to the Coasta Rican and the club as a whole.
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When Arsenal is fit, it is hard to see where Campbell slots in. That is understandable. The youngster can either be played as a winger or perhaps through the middle. In those positions the Gunners have many options. Campbell is not on the same level as Olivier Giroud or Theo Walcott at leading the line of attack. He also does not have the all-around qualities of Alexis or Danny Welbeck in wider positions. Furthermore he is positioned behind Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere for playing time. When Arsenal are fit they have a plethora of exciting attacking options. Sadly, most of these players are chronically injured and many of them are not fit at the moment.
This period of injury woes for Arsenal was a perfect chance for Campbell to prove his worth. This was the moment many gooners were waiting for. The opportunity to see if Campbell was really fit for Arsenal or not. This is of course why you have squad players in the side. Athletes who can come off the bench and do a job for the team, hungry to make an impact. There is no doubt in my mind that Campbell was starving for this chance. Yet it seems that Arsene Wenger had his doubts.
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Against Swansea Campbell scored his first goal for the Gunners. It was a lovely finish set up by Mesut Ozil. It felt like something had clicked. Right when we needed a spark, some sliver of light to remind us that hope still exists, Joel Campbell lifted our spirits. After that game Campbell ran into some more difficult opponents in the form of Bayern Munich and Tottenham. He didn’t dazzle in either contest, but to be fair, few of his teammates did either. Furthermore, he was pulled by the manager in the North London Derby for Kieran Gibbs. The makeshift winger went on to score the crucial tying goal, and at that moment it was a perfect move. However, that should not have forced Campbell out of the side.
One goal scored by a clever, and incredibly desperate, substitution should not have displaced the young Costa Rican from the starting XI. Yet against West Brom, Wenger chose to start Keiran Gibbs over a natural winger. That is absolute madness for so many reasons. Firstly, Wenger should be well aware of the fact that confidence is key for footballers. Look at Mesut Ozil. For his first two seasons with Arsenal the German struggled to make his mark on games in a consistent manner. Now he is brimming with confidence and every time he steps on the pitch he is likely to do something breathtaking.
Mesut Ozil is a world cup winner, who once played for Real Madrid! For a player like Joel Campbell, confidence is even more precious. For the manager to select a defender over him must have been crushing for the youngster. No wonder he came on and fluffed that shot at The Hawthorns.
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With his senses finally returning, Arsene Wenger chose to start Campbell in a pivotal game against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League. The manager’s choice paid off fully. Campbell played the full 90′ and he was lively from start to finish. It was perhaps the best game he has ever played in an Arsenal shirt. Campbell notched an assist to go along with an 84% pass accuracy and an eye-popping four tackles. After that much-needed win, it seemed like Campbell was finally growing into his role with Arsenal.
It is a manager’s job to direct and guide his players. Not just the young ones looking for their big break like Joel Campbell, but superstars like Alexis Sanchez as well. Sanchez is an amazing player, who gives 100% every second he is on the pitch. He never takes a moment off and always wants to start every match. It is no secret that the Chilean has played an incredible amount of football lately. In 2014 he dazzled at the World Cup before taking the Premier League by storm, and then followed that up with a heroic Copa America. Couple that with the fact that he is often pushed to the limit for Chile during World Cup qualifiers and that he has played at least 80′ for Arsenal in his last nine games, and it clear that Sanchez was reaching the red zone.
This is not American football, where reaching the red zone is a good thing.
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Alexis needed a rest. Wenger said that he planned to rest Alexis, but the Chilean told him before the game in Norwich that he was perfectly fine. This is dreadful managing. If Wenger had the intention of resting Alexis, then rest him. Don’t let your players words sway you. It is crucial for the manager to protect players from themselves. Furthermore, this was a game when Joel Campbell could have built on the positive form he displayed against Zagreb and truly gained some momentum. Now however, we are faced with a crucial injury to one of our best players , all because the manager couldn’t trust Joel Campbell.