Many Arsenal fans were very underwhelmed when Joel Campbell got a run in the First XI as the right-winger due to simultaneous injuries to Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but for today’s game at Norwich both of those will be back in the Arsenal squad so Arsene Wenger now has to decide on which of the three will start the match at Carrow Road.
Wenger has already made it clear that he prefers Ramsey to play on the right rather than to be used as cover for Francis Coquelin, but in the pre-game preview on Arsenal.com, Wenger chooses Campbell for a special mention for his excellent performance on Tuesday.
“I think he did well – especially in the first half,” Wenger said. “First of all he has a genuine attitude. He is a professional and he combined very well with Ozil and Bellerin on the right wing in the first half and he had some dangerous moments.
“In the second half he gave a fantastic ball to Alexis for goal number three and that shows he has individual skill but he was always in the action.
“When you are a player that never gets a chance and then you come in and get 90 minutes throughout October and November you have to show that you are in this team and that is not easy.
“When you look at his overall performances, you cannot say that he has not done well. Overall his contribution has been great.”
That sounds to me like Wenger has no intention of dropping him at all, and as Ramsey has not had much game time for a while, I am thinking that Campbell has earned the chance to start in today’s game as well.
We all know that Ramsey is one of Wenger’s “favourites” but could Campbell keep the Welshman on the bench for a while?