Joel Campbell
The Situation
Joel Campbell was signed by Arsenal from Costa Ricas flagship club Deportivo Saprissa in 2011. At the time Campbell was just shy of his 19th birthday and considered a ‘rough diamond’ by many who’d taken liberty to watch the young upstart. He was subsequently scouted and his potential was picked up on by members of the Arsenal central American scouting network, which was, and still is, spearheaded by ex-Arsenal and former USA International Daniel Karbassiyoon. Unsurprisingly UK working regulations and the players age and lack of International caps denied him a UK work-permit. Since then he’s been loaned to Lorient in France, Real Betis in Spain and most recently Olympiacos in Greece.
After 3 seasons on-loan, spanning 3 separate European leagues, Costa Rican hotshot Joel Campbell is set to finally move to his parent club (Arsenal) and tread the high profile boards of the Premier League.
The Decision
Campbell was granted a work-permit (to work/play in England) in July 2013, but Wenger opted to send the forward on-loan to Greek champions Olympiacos. After a fairly impressive and solid season, which saw Campbell churn out a number of exciting displays in Greece and in the Champions League, Campbell did his burgeoning reputation no harm in giving some impressive performances for his National team and surprise dark horses Costa Rica in this summer’s World Cup in Brazil. Such were the 22-year-old’s displays that Wenger has since been asked about the immediate future of the player. The answer was concise and unelaborate; ‘Joel Campbell will report for pre-season training with Arsenal’.
It’s worth bearing in mind that Wenger has decided to err on the side of caution and whilst not playing down Campbell’s talents, he’s stopped short on waxing lyrical on the player’s realistic prospects of seeing action at the Emirates in the coming campaign. In fact there’s a fair bit of talk that Arsenal will look to loan the player out to a fellow Premier League team to give Campbell experience in a new league and gauge his suitability and overall potential to be a hit in such a competitive environment.
The Verdict
This is something that we, the writers at AFCMO seem split on.
Pros: Campbell has pace, a direct approach to his attacking game. He isn’t afraid to take a man on, commit defenders and make runs that not only create opportunities for himself but also his team-mates looking to exploit gaps in the offensive third of the pitch. He’s seemingly not short on confidence and after some impressive performances in the World Cup he has the wind in his sails, you’d assume he’ll be chomping at the bit to prove himself in what is (for many) ‘the best league in the World’. Campbell is one of the modern breed of versatile forward players. He’s very much at home playing on either side of an attacking trio, going wide and looking to either make a beeline for the penalty area, or alternatively get down the touchline of either flank and look to put balls into the penalty area. He’s also adept at leading the line, such is his pace and ability to play with his back to goal, Campbell does have attributes that lend themselves to that of the role of a centre forward.
Cons: He is very raw in his forward play at times, it’s likely there will need to be a degree of refinement in his game if he’s to make the most of his talents in such a frenetic, intense environment such as the Premier League. Occasionally he does have a propensity (like many young forwards with similar attributes) to find himself ‘running down blind-alley’s’, you can attribute this to his age and occasional rushes of blood to the head, but this is something that Campbell will need to quickly eradicate from his game, certainly playing in England. It’s been touched on that Campbell does have an erratic temperament. A quick scouting mission on Youtube will reveal a fiery irrational side to the player as he waves his arms around like branches in a force-9-gale when a team-mate doesn’t give him the ball when and where he wants it. And then there’s the very obvious point that the player has zero experience of playing the Premier League. Does he have the right mentality and ability to deal with a weight of expectation and pressure that goes with the territory of playing for a top club in a league that’s generally unforgiving of those who lack the resilience required to make an impact in what is often an intense and emotive environment.
One question, or statement (depending on how you look at it) posed by many Arsenal fans is: ‘Well, surely he’s better than Sanogo’? Of course that’s subjective, but in terms of overall effectiveness and recent high profile displays (namely the World Cup finals) you’d struggle to argue to the contrary, but the acid-test will come if and when Campbell kicks a ball in anger for Arsenal in a competitive game.
Campbell’s versatility and desire to attack the dangerous areas in the offensive third are something that may well prove themselves to be to the player’s and Arsenal’s advantage. Is Campbell ready to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact in the red and white? That’s something that there’s inevitable question-marks over.
As a squad-player Campbell may well prove useful, alternatively a loan to a fellow Premier League side might not be a bad shout that could have longer term advantages from Arsenal’s point of view. With the frenzied desire and expectation for Arsenal to add a proven goal-threat to their ranks, it might be a bit hopeful and in the extreme unfair to expect Campbell to be that man. If he is afforded the chance however (in whatever capacity), he seems a precocious talent who’d gladly throw himself in at the deep end. If this scenario comes to pass hopefully he’ll swim like fish and not throw his arms around like a panicked child, reliving his infamous exploits on the Costa Rican training ground.
Your Verdict
ARSENE WENGER @cobonyo_arsenal – Definitely. He is not established in the EPL but he’s shown he can handle it at the top level.
DIE MANNSCHAFT @THEdylanalton – either he or Sanogo need to be loaned out.
Summer Football @LWOS_FootyChat – he’s got a good chance. Failing him holding a spot he’ll command a decent sale price.
ugo njubigbo @lwosugoignatius – sure, he does. He’s definitely going to add depth to the squad. He’s got experience already and is good to go when needed… Yaya should be loaned! Joel should get his slot. He’s tried and tested already.
Daniel Siggins @siggy_96 – If we don’t sign Sanchez/Remy he can definitely work his way into the first team.
Kieran @Arsenes_Menthol – he could stagnate if he doesn’t get game time at Arsenal but a loan move to Everton would be perfect.
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