Why Arsenal Must Not Keep the Faith in Costa Rica Forward Joel Campbell

It's silly season once again. Transfer rumors and other assorted bits of made-up clickbait are making the rounds as fans grasp onto the most meager strands of hope that their team will sign someone.

The really stupid stories are about elite players who stand as much chance of switching clubs in January as I do of getting a trial with Arsenal. Most others concern relatively well-known bit-part players who could conceivably (though probably won't) switch clubs midseason.

Joel Campbell is the perfect storm. Despite the hype train that was set in motion after impressive displays for Olympiacos against Manchester United and accelerated during a particularly good World Cup showing, the Costa Rican has failed to get much playing time this season.

He has 10 appearances during this, his first real season with Arsenal, most of which are insignificant substitute appearances in relatively unimportant games.

Yet Campbell has shown flashes of talent during his career, and he has just the attitude that Arsenal fans want him to have. He has made several statements like the following, via Arsenal's official website:

"

I always try and take advantage of the chances that come my way and play as well as I can. I know that I can give more, so I’m working hard day in, day out to improve as a player. ...  I just try to do the best I can so that I might be involved in future games.

"

While Campbell is no doubt a hard worker with an admirable attitude, he has evidently not impressed Arsene Wenger enough in training to get regular first-team appearances. He is sort of in a Lukas Podolski zone. He has talent, but Wenger does not think he fits into the starting XI.

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To be fair, it is very hard to work Campbell in. He has had to compete with Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this season—the former is an automatic starter and the latter two are simply better given the evidence we have.

Campbell's prospects became exponentially more bleak after Theo Walcott returned to full fitness. In a way, Mesut Ozil's comeback hurts him as well.

Walcott plays, as we know, on the right wing—where Campbell would work best. Meanwhile, Ozil will eventually command a spot in the starting lineup, forcing a shift in the way the team is set up. Cazorla will likely be pushed to the left wing with Alexis on the right.

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It's a good problem for Wenger to have, but Campbell does not really factor into consideration unless the aforementioned players simultaneously succumb to injury.

As with Podolski, Wenger tried nearly every tactical option possible other than starting Campbell when the Gunners were ravaged by injuries early in the season. Campbell only got a sniff as a late-game substitute.

There's also a bit of Yaya Sanogo syndrome, as well. Campbell has not scored a single goal in any of his 10 appearances.

That could simply be down to the pressure on him when he does play, and, as we saw with Sanogo, does not immediately put one in bad stead with Wenger.

However, Campbell is trying too hard, and it shows. In his last major appearance, against Galatasaray, he ran quite a bit in an effort to create chances but constantly looked to shoot, whether he was inside or outside of the penalty box.

It just did not work for him.

The Daily Mail says that Campbell could join David Moyes at Real Sociedad, while the Metro is confident that Sunderland are close to wrapping up a deal.

While the rumors are probably false (as most transfer stories are), they do not portend something bad for Arsenal.

Fans might question why Wenger does not want to use this particular asset, but no commentator has ever worked with Campbell. The manager observes him in training every single day.

So, if it's not working out to this point, don't count on Campbell pulling a Francis Coquelin and resurrecting his Arsenal career. It's probably over, and it's probably for the best.

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