Costa Rican sensation and Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell dazzled in his World Cup opener against Uruguay.
Whatever Joel Campbell goes onto achieve in his career, his name will be forever associated with one of the great World Cup shocks of 2014.
Highly fancied Uruguay, semi-finalists in South Africa, were finely beaten 3-1 on Saturday night, with Campbell grabbing a goal and an assist.
The young striker scored Costa Rica’s equaliser and set up the third goal, leaving many asking why Arsenal loaned him out to Olympiakos last season.
The 21-year-old showed just why he is regarded as such an asset, racking up a pass completion rate of 87.5 per cent on the night,
| Match | Matchday | Team | Pos | Assist | Goals | Pass Completion % | Mins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Campbell | vs | 01 | Costa Rica | FW | 1 | 1 | 87.50 | 90 |
Campbell also won three aerial duels, more than anybody in his team, with his pass completion rate better than any midfielder or forward on the Costa Rica side, and only Uruguay’s Edigio Rios (89 per cent) bettering him.
In comparing his display with Arsenal’s Premier League matches last season, he certainly matches up well.
Only two players in individual performances managed to score one, assist one, and complete 87.5 per cent of their passes or more in a single match – Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil.
| Match | Matchday | Pos | Assist | Goals | Pass Completion % | Mins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Ramsey | Arsenal vs Norwich | 08 | MF | 1 | 1 | 91.07 | 53 |
| Mesut Özil | Arsenal vs Newcastle | 36 | MF | 1 | 1 | 94.00 | 74 |
A full list of players who simply scored and assisted in the same Premier League game for Arsenal in 2013/14 can be seen below, five different players.
| Match | Matchday | Pos | Goal Assist | Goals | Mins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olivier Giroud | Sunderland vs Arsenal | 04 | FW | 1 | 1 | 89 |
| Olivier Giroud | Arsenal vs Sunderland | 27 | FW | 1 | 2 | 90 |
| Lukas Podolski | Arsenal vs Swansea | 29 | FW | 1 | 1 | 33 |
| Aaron Ramsey | Hull vs Arsenal | 35 | MF | 1 | 1 | 90 |
| Aaron Ramsey | Swansea vs Arsenal | 06 | MF | 1 | 1 | 90 |
| Aaron Ramsey | Arsenal vs Norwich | 08 | MF | 1 | 1 | 53 |
| Jack Wilshere | Aston Villa vs Arsenal | 21 | MF | 1 | 1 | 90 |
| Jack Wilshere | Arsenal vs Norwich | 08 | MF | 1 | 1 | 90 |
| Mesut Özil | Arsenal vs Newcastle | 36 | MF | 1 | 1 | 74 |
The quality of opponent Campbell faced, a Uruguay side featuring Diego Godin in defence of La Liga champions Atletico Madrid, hints that he really would have the capability to be as effective in the Premier League – added to the further context of his Champions League goal against Manchester United.
Campbell has further opportunities to stake his claim, notably against Premier League defenders of England in two games time – but he may already have done enough to prove why he deserves a shot at Arsenal next season.
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