Arsenal: Joel Campbell Defining Wenger’s Values

Arsenal looked likely to part ways with Joel Campbell, but the Costa Rican won’t be done away with that easily. He’s determined to continue to prove himself to a stubborn Wenger.

Yet again Joel Campbell has quashed his Arsenal exit rumors by rededicating himself to staying and fighting for his place on the team. The 24 year old Costa Rican saw his Premier League debut last season and in the process, he showed everyone what he was capable of. And what he was capable of is holding down a starting spot on Arsenal.

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But Wenger didn’t agree, as he took every opportunity to replace Campbell with the Ox, Walcott and Iwobi. ‘Tis a shame.

So an Arsenal exit seemed likely. 24 years old and still underappreciated? Talk about a need to get away. And yet, apparently Campbell doesn’t see it that way. He said, via his own official website:

"“I have had a good holiday and now I am happy to train, to return strong, to prepare myself well in this preseason for the new campaign for which I have high expectations and I will fight with everything to have the opportunity to play and to show what I can give.”"

As if that wasn’t enough for you to prove his work ethic that we have already seen on full display, he had more to say:

"“Last season was my first full season with the team from start to finish and to me it was a very productive time, I played 30 games and that was very important for me and made me mature a lot. I could show what I’m made of, and at last the team and the fans were happy with what I have done”"

Instead of taking Wenger’s ingratitude and running away to a team that will appreciate him and what he brings to the table, he is going to stay and continue to show Wenger how he embodies everything that the Frenchman looks for in a player.

What do we always hear that Wenger is looking for and who do we always see him signing? He wants a hard working, loyal player that is multi-faceted. If you asked me to describe Joel Campbell in three different ways, those would be the three things I would describe him as.

The hard work is clear to see. Last season he was a fiend on the right side of the pitch. With him and Bellerin combined, any opposing player on that side of the pitch was doomed to have the tenacious Campbell and the rambunctious Bellerin snapping at his heels.

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The multi-faceted is clear to see too. This is what I always praise Campbell for. He doesn’t just do one thing. He does all of the things. Some of what he does needs some fine-tuning, but who doesn’t?

Arsenal loyalty was already on full display, but hearing these comments reinforces them to no end. He was completely underappreciated last year, but instead of being bitter and letting himself get an ego of superiority, he has decided to take it as a learning experience and prove himself even more.

Hey, Wenger, are you listening? Because this is the type of player you dream of.

Plus, how often does Wenger harp about internal competition at Arsenal without actually utilizing it fully? Joel Campbell defines internal competition and how it is supposed to work. He was replaced, so he’s getting better.

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But maybe that was the plan all along. Sometimes I credit Wenger with thinking three, four years in advance at Arsenal and sometimes I credit it as dumb luck. Could Wenger be doing this to Campbell just to promote his continued growth? It’s hard to say. We will have to see what happens with Arsenal this year, but I am certainly excited to see the result.