Arsene Wenger must be quite pleased, and also relieved, about the way that the Arsenal and Costa Rican international forward has stepped up to cover for the injury hit Alexis Sanchez. It was Wenger who signed Joel Campbell for the Gunners in the first place, of course, so the boss knew there was quality there but it was looking ever more likely that his Arsenal career was coming to an end.
But Campbell has taken his chance to play with the first team well and he put in another good shift for us last night, showing some good skill and working really hard for his team mates. But now we have been told about the injury setback that will keep Alexis out of action until January, apparently missing the next four games, I think the onus is on Campbell to step up another level.
I do not want to be too harsh on the lad but he needs to improve his finishing. Campbell should really have scored at least one of his two very good chances last night. We got away with it in the end but only just and if Man City had nicked a point then fingers would have been pointed. The Costa Rican has scored a couple of Premier League goals already in just seven games and so he should not be lacking in confidence but he does tend to snatch at chances and needs more composure in front of goal.
Is that all that Campbell needs to really cement a place in this Arsenal side? And with three of our next four games being at home to Bournemouth, Newcastle and Sunderland, does Campbell have to use this period to prove himself once more?