%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Stars Aligning For Joel Campbell At Arsenal
By Josh Sippie
Joel Campbell is finally finding a bit of good luck at Arsenal, although his good luck may be bad luck for the team as a whole.
Since Joel Campbell signed with Arsenal in 2011, nothing has gone right. He has struggled to obtain a visa, struggled through four straights years of loans, and faced a near exit right when he was supposed to be on the doorstep of his prime. Yet now, all of a sudden, the stars are aligning for the young Costa Rican. This year has provided him with opportunities aplenty and he is going to have even more opportunities over this Christmas period.
Related Story: 10 Things On Arsene Wenger's Christmas List
News came after the Arsenal victory that Alexis Sanchez would not be back until the New Year. Apparently Arsene Wenger had wanted to include Alexis Sanchez in his substitutes against Manchester City, but a dreaded setback happened and now Alexis’s hamstring will not be in working condition until the New Year. Now Arsene Wenger is tasked with keeping the Chilean calm through it all.
In the mean time, perhaps the only person smiling at this news is Joel Campbell. Since Alexis has been out injured, Joel Campbell has had more opportunities than he knows what to do with. For the most part, he has been impressive. After stringing together a handful of positive performances, Campbell fell on a bit of hard times, but he was never awful. Campbell still has two goals and two assists since taking over against Swansea back in late October.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
It is in his work rate and defensive effort that we see how badly he wants to play. Even when Campbell’s offense pails, his defensive contributions never do. Against Manchester City he could be seen bolting back to help on defense, something that was quite the inspiring sight to see.
Arsenal needs guys like Joel Campbell to provide quality rotation for their starters. Yet, Joel Campbell is not going to be satisfied with a rotational role. Not with the hopes that he has. He is going to have at least two more chances over Christmas to prove that Arsenal need him in their starting rotation. For as good as he has been, he has not been proven indispensable just yet. There are still lapses in his game.
For instance, there have been three golden opportunities on goal that have gone horribly wrong. In all likelihood, that can be solved with time and confidence, but that is going to be at a premium once Alexis returns. Campbell has to prove himself now.
More from Arsenal News
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
Whatever the case, Joel Campbell has to be thankful that his Arsenal fate is finally in his hands. Too long had he been completely powerless to change the tides of his Arsenal fate. If nothing else, through these past couple months, Campbell has proved that Arsenal need him and that they can rely on him.
It really is remarkable what Joel Campbell has done. With injuries galore, Joel Campbell stepped in and there was no lapse in quality. With Joel Campbell starting, Arsenal has risen to second in the league within striking distance of Leicester City. They have buried City and pulled four points clear of them while pulling seven points clear of the next wave of competition. That is largely thanks to Joel Campbell and the work he did in Alexis Sanchez’s absence.
Next: Arsenal's 30 Greatest Transfers
He is going to have a crucial role to play in keeping Alexis healthy through squad rotation. Who knows, maybe he’ll have even a bigger role than that.