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5 Reasons Why Joel Cambell Should Be Arsenal’s First Choice
By Josh Sippie
Joel Campbell has been in the background at Arsenal for awhile, but he may have overtaken Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the pecking order already. Here’s how.
Since becoming editor of Pain in the Arsenal, there have been two campaigns that I have been incredibly persistent in. The first one is to get Olivier Giroud recognized as an elite striker. Which I truly believe he is. That one may be a losing battle, but I won’t give up. The second is to see Joel Campbell given a proper chance so he can prove that he has the quality to be an Arsenal regular. That one may finally be coming true.
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There are some players that Arsene Wenger can be incredibly fickle about and some players that he is the opposite. Per Mertesacker could absolutely embarrass himself on the pitch and he would still be starting. The same with Arteta. But then there are guys like Kieran Gibbs and Joel Campbell, who make one mistake, or are not even given the chance to make a mistake, and they’re gone.
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Joel Campbell has finally been given his chance and since his first EPL start against Swansea City, he has been one of Arsenal’s most reliable tools going forward. He has been able to give Arsenal another angle to attack from. The added width without the enigma that is usually attached to it when it is manned by Theo Walcott or the Ox is a sight for sore eyes. Spreading that defense out is only making it easier for everyone to score.
Injuries are never a good thing, but if they bring to light a player that had been buried, then it is hard to argue their benefits. The Ox has already been passed up by Campbell, even with it being such a small sampling thus far. Campbell has made six starts, three domestically and three in the Champions League. And he has not looked bad in a single one of those appearances.
It really is shocking to think that he has passed up the Ox already, but here are five reasons why that is most certainly the case.
Next: 5. He Is In Control