Not long after Joel Campbell finally got his work permit for the English Premier League and was brought back to Arsenal after an impressive 2014 World Cup with Costa Rica, it looked like his career as a Gunner would be over almost before it began.
It did not help that his agent kept talking about how unhappy the forward was with his lack of first team playing opportunities and so once he went back out on loan it looked like his attitude and desire to fight for his place was just not there.
How wrong that was proved to be today. Even before this game at Swansea City the boss had been full of praise for the way Campbell has worked and his attitude. We certainly saw that today as Campbell really grabbed the opportunity presented to him by the injury problems of Walcott, Ramsdey and the Ox.
So what has caused this change in the Costa Rican? I have a feeling that the situation of his team mate Francis Coquelin could be the answer. Coquelin’s own career was looking as doomed as Campbell’s until another injury crisis gave him the chance and he has never looked back since.
Surely the example set by Coquelin would not have gone unnoticed by Campbell and I would not be surprised if the striker had been getting as much advice as possible from Coquelin about how he turned things around. What do you think Gooners?