Is Joel Campbell now Arsenal’s best right-sided option?

With Joel Campbell enjoying a meteoric rise this season, Jonathan Kaney assesses whether the Costa Rican has made the right-midfield role his own.

It’s been a strange season so far for the Gunners in the right wing slot. Aaron Ramsey started the term in the position with much success for the team, but individually looked out of sorts and lacking confidence before a cruel injury ruled him out.

The Welshman’s long spell on the sidelines saw Alex Oxlaide Chamberlain get his chance, but he was also out of sorts before injury was to strike again to both him and Theo Walcott to leave us crippled for options.

Joel Campbell then came in, getting a chance most squad players could only dream of as five other players who could play the position were injured.

In his first few games it looked as if he wasn’t taking it. Things weren’t coming off for him, he was ineffective and viewed as a weak link, the fans and the press were shouting for an upgrade January signing and it looked as if he would be shipped out in January.

What a difference a few weeks can make though. Like we’ve seen in the past with Nacho Monreal or Francis Coquelin, all it needed was consistent game time to show just how good he is and the Costa Rican is playing head and shoulders above Walcott and the Ox, in creativity, work rate and goal scoring threat at the moment.

He’s proved his doubters (including myself) wrong and his two goals and single assist in twelve Premier League games is a harsh reflection of how well he is playing.

Arsenal are a team built on fluid attacking football and Campbell has developed a great relationship with his team mates, Giroud and Ozil in particular. He works hard in attack and defence, he’s comfortable on the ball and taking people on, he’s a goal threat and he also has superb vision, which was on display when he slipped on Ramsey to score at Anfield and then again on Sunday where he slipped in Giroud, who was denied a goal only by excellent keeping.

He’s been playing so well that when Alexis Sanchez comes back into the side it will be Campbell that keeps his place in the first XI. He’s finally settled into the team and shown that at 23-years-old he is not only good enough to warrant a place in the team, but that he could become one of our best attackers.

He shares many similarities with the Chilean – tenacity, skill, flair and work-rate. The Ox hasn’t been himself this season and Walcott, still sore from being kept out of the striking role by Giroud is not looking his best on the wing. With Iwobi still learning and Ramsey in sublime form in the centre, Campbell looks like he’s locked down his place in the team and fair play to him.

At the moment he is definitely our best option on the right.