15 Jun 2014 07:12:09
I know it's very early days but so far Joel Campbell seems to have been the second best orthodox striker in the World Cup in the first series of games.

Cavani looked grossly overrated - Hulk as cumbersome as ever - Rooney flopped again - Eto a shadow of the player he was. Even Costa who I think is very good striker looked a bit slow and cumbersome. RVP, sadly, looked full of venom and skill. Balotelli took his chance well but against a poor England defence didn't exactly tear us apart, and Sturridge was fast and at times effective but not as fast or nearly as effective as Campbell.

I KNOW it's one game, but he's played well all season for Costa Rica and on loan, he's fast, he packs a hell of shot, he's confident, he has a eye for the goal, he passes well, to me he looks just what we want.

All we need to do is sort those pesky work permit issues out and I think we might have our very own solution to one of our major weaknesses. As for the work permit when you see the number of mediocre Honduran and Australian footballers that can get a permit it seems hatrd to believe Campbell can't or won't get one.

So buy Vela for a bargain basement £4m, bring Campbell back and add them to Walcott and Giroud and we are close to having sorted our second biggests problem area for in footballing terms a handful of beans.

I repeat I know he's young, I know he may not make it, but short of RVP, Aguerro, Suarez and a tiny handful of others I don't see anything worth the money being mentioned.

Imagine Campbell and Walcott running at defences, Ozil threading the passes, Ramsey chasing into the gaps, and hopefully a revived Jack back to his best dominating the centre, just add the teeth and box to box skills of Carvalho and you have something that looks seriously scary.

I repeat I know Campbell is still in development, still a risk, but at 22 it's time for risks to be taken.

1.) 15 Jun 2014
15 Jun 2014 09:54:55
Damn fine post.

2.) 15 Jun 2014
Cambell on the left Walcott on the right would be scary pace on either flank Ozil creating and Ramasy breaking forward now we just need a CF to help add to the mix

3.) 15 Jun 2014
15 Jun 2014 12:25:10
Pretty sure Campbell had a work permit last season, Wenger just chose to loan him out. Is that right ed002?

{Ed002's Note - Yes.}

4.) 15 Jun 2014
Ed

I think you're wrong, sorry to doubt you. I've read two reputable national newspapers both saying Campbell has had three applications turned down, the next is his fourth. I believe the reason for his loan is because we can't get the visa agreed not because Arsene wants to send him out.

{Ed001's Note - sorry but I got it straight from Steve Bould's mouth was that Wenger chose to send him out on loan. I will believe Bould over any of those rags, as there is no such thing as a reputable newspaper in the UK.}

5.) 16 Jun 2014
Well you could be right and you could be wrong it seems - the 'rags' include The Independent, The Mirror, The Guardian, International Business Times, Metro and 4-4-2. But looking again there is clearly a counter school of thought which weirdly includes some Arsenal fan web sites and particularly oddly The Kenyan Times!
I'm always prepared to doubt everybody personally but I'm guessing it makes no difference as whether he did or didn't have a permit he will after the World Cup. My point was on the World Cup to date, and it's only a small slice in a long season, he has looked better than almost every other striker other than RVP, and that he might just be part of what can save us a mint and mean we can invest big elsewhere.