Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has 'smelt something' in Joel Campbell’s blossoming form.
After a series of loan spells away from the club, Wenger believes Campbell is ready to display the form that will make him a first-team regular.
Arsène Wenger has “smelt something” in Joel Campbell’s blossoming in an Arsenal shirt that has taken the pressure off the manager to act in the January transfer window.
Having loaned Campbell to four times in four seasons, Wenger is now keen to keep Campbell at the club, and believes the Costa Rican’s new-found confidence could result in him becoming a first-team regular.
“This season I didn’t want to [loan] him out because he has a genuine team attitude and he’s a fighter. What you want from him is to bring more offensively when he played, and recently he has shown, when he is confident, he can produce the offensive quality.”
Having struggled to get past the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mesut Özil, Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sánchez for a place on the right wing, Campbell has impressed when given the opportunity this season, catching the eye in particular during the 3-0 win against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday.
A smart reverse pass that set up Özil for Arsenal’s third goal capped an all-round positive display for Campbell.
“I smelt something with him that is very interesting. The other night he had a positive attitude, he was not only playing safe,” Wenger said. “He’s creative. I could see that but the creativity is linked with the confidence. You open your eyes when you feel really free to take the initiative. That was a bit of his problem [before].”
Arsenal are – as always seems to be the case at this point in the season – battling a lengthy injury list of key players, this time including Aaron Ramsey (hamstring), Mikel Arteta (calf) and Francis Coq
With Ramsey’s return to the side imminent, it had looked as if Campbell’s first-team run would be curtailed, but Wenger suggested he is considering options that would enable him to go on including the player. “At the end of the day, you decide what’s best for the team. Ramsey is coming back of course… but it [might be] good to move Ramsey inside [in Coquelin’s defensive midfield position] during a game and give Campbell the opportunity.”
Campbell’s emergence could scarcely be more timely for Wenger. Asked if as a result of injuries he would be looking to add to his squad when the January transfer window opened, the Frenchman sounded relaxed. “I’ve still got enough quality, but we have an eye open,” he said.
Until recently, fans and pundits had speculated on whether Campbell, 23, would soon be moved on, having failed to make an impression since signing for Arsenal from Deportivo Saprissa in 2011. However, his demonstration this term of the necessary work ethic and hunger to compete with more established players for a place has impressed Wenger and been sufficient to cause widespread reappraisal from the stands at the Emirates Stadium.
Wenger said: “A guy who comes here very young from Costa Rica… Week in, week out to fight. He went to Lorient, Olympiakos and Villarreal, and he has learned how hard life is at the top level. Now he is ready, and he is still young.”
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