Can Joel Campbell play a starring role for Costa Rica at the World Cup?

Costa Rica are gearing up for their third consecutive World Cup as they prepare to head to Qatar in November.

The Central American nation will be dreaming of repeating their success of eight years ago, when they defied pre-tournament odds by making it to the quarter-finals, but they will have their work cut out in doing so after being placed in the same group as European giants Spain and Germany, as well as potential dark horses Japan.

If they are to make an impact at this year’s tournament, a lot could rest on the shoulders of forward Joel Campbell.

Joel Campbell is preparing to represent Costa Rica at their third consecutive World Cup

The 30-year-old has racked up 117 caps for his country and remains a key player ahead of his third straight appearance at the World Cup.

Arsenal fans will be familiar with Campbell, who previously spent seven years at the Emirates, but how did he first come onto their radar? And what has he been up to since leaving the Gunners?

Sportsmail takes a look back at Campbell’s extraordinary journey as the experienced winger aims to shine at another global tournament. 

Premier League move

Having come through the ranks at Deportivo Saprissa in his homeland, Campbell made his senior debut for the club in September 2010 at the age of 18. He would go on to make just four appearances for the team before joining fellow Costa Rican side Puntarenas the following January.

Again, Campbell was a peripheral figure at the club, playing just five matches, but he had started to catch the eye at international level.

He was picked for the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in 2011 and netted six goals in five matches as Costa Rica made the final.

His performances in that competition earned him a call-up to play for the senior side in the 2011 Gold Cup, and he marked his debut with a goal against Cuba.

Arsene Wenger was excited about Campbell's future when Arsenal signed him in 2011

Arsene Wenger was excited about Campbell’s future when Arsenal signed him in 2011

Wenger described the forward as 'a player with great ability' at the time

Wenger described the forward as ‘a player with great ability’ at the time

Campbell continued his busy summer by playing at the Under-20 World Cup, and after scoring twice in the group stage against Australia, Arsenal scout Danny Karbassiyoon had seen enough.

The Gunners made their move, signing the promising youngster just days after Costa Rica were eliminated from the tournament, and Arsene Wenger was excited about his prospects.  

‘Joel Campbell has already shown that he is a player with great ability and has also performed well on the international stage at a young age,’ the then-Arsenal boss said.

‘We look forward to the formalities of the transfer being completed and working with Joel when he joins us at Arsenal.’

Work permit issue arises

Wenger expected the deal to be a formality, but it quickly became a complicated affair as Campbell failed to obtain a work permit to play in England, causing the Premier League club to loan him out to Ligue 1 outfit Lorient.

In his only season with the French club Campbell scored just three league goals, and having still failed to secure a work permit at the end of the campaign, Arsenal had no choice but to loan him out again – this time to Spanish side Real Betis.

Campbell struggled to cement his place in the squad during his early days in LaLiga, but became a regular in the team in the second half of the season as Betis finished seventh in the table.

Campbell's work permit issues meant he was initially sent out on various loans by Arsenal

Campbell’s work permit issues meant he was initially sent out on various loans by Arsenal

At the end of the 2012-13 season Campbell was finally issued with a work permit, but Arsenal still decided to send him out on loan for a third consecutive campaign to Olympiacos.

This was an important season for the winger heading into the 2014 World Cup as he thrived out in Greece, netting 11 goals across all competitions – including against Manchester United in the Champions League. 

Shining at the World Cup and returning to Arsenal

Fresh off the back of impressing at Olympiacos, Campbell began the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with momentum on his side, and he made an immediate impact.

After falling behind in the opening game against Uruguay, Campbell pulled Costa Rica level in the second half and then set up his team’s third goal to seal a shock 3-1 win.

Costa Rica still had Italy and England to play and they were not expected to make it out of their group, but in the end they edged past the former 1-0 and held the Three Lions to a goalless draw to book their place in the knockout stages.

He scored Costa Rica's first goal at the World Cup as his side made the quarter-finals

He scored Costa Rica’s first goal at the World Cup as his side made the quarter-finals

In the last 16 they took on Greece, and when the match finished 1-1 after extra-time penalties were needed to separate the two sides. Campbell converted his spot-kick in the shootout as Costa Rica came out on top to make the quarter-finals.

The Arsenal forward started the last eight clash with Holland but was taken off shortly after the hour mark as Costa Rica were eliminated on penalties. However, he had certainly stood out during his national team’s historic run, meaning it was time for Arsenal to finally bring him back to the Emirates.

Fails to sparkle at the Emirates

His World Cup performances had shown Arsenal fans what he was capable of, and it seemed Campbell would be given an opportunity to flourish in north London in the 2014-15 season.

Unfortunately for Campbell, that did not happen as he failed to start a single league game in the first half of the season and was sent out on loan once more to Villarreal in January.

Despite scoring a mere one goal in his time at Villarreal, Campbell was brought back into the fold for the 2015-16 season at Arsenal, with Wenger handing him one last chance to prove that he could make the grade in his team.

He was finally given a regular spot in the starting XI during the opening weeks of the season, and Wenger heaped praise on Campbell in November 2015.

‘This season I didn’t want to loan him out because he has a genuine team attitude and he’s a fighter,’ he explained.

Campbell still struggled to get opportunities at Arsenal even after shining at the World Cup

Campbell still struggled to get opportunities at Arsenal even after shining at the World Cup

He eventually got more game time but did not do enough to cement his place in the side

He eventually got more game time but did not do enough to cement his place in the side

‘Recently he has shown that when he is confident he can produce the offensive quality and also be reliable with his team attitude.

‘I smelt something with him that is very interesting. He’s creative. I could see that but the creativity is linked with the confidence.’

Just weeks after these comments, though, Campbell was back out of the team, and his opportunities dried up as the season progressed.

A late cameo appearance on the final day of the season in May 2016 would prove to be his 40th and final appearance in an Arsenal shirt.

He was loaned out to Sporting Lisbon for the following campaign before spending a year back at Betis, and in the summer of 2018 Arsenal decided it was finally time to let Campbell go for good.

Post-Arsenal days

In August 2018, newly-promoted Serie A club Frosinone came calling and Campbell headed over to Italy for the first time in his career, ending his seven-year spell at Arsenal.

His time there would prove short-lived as he played just 17 times before moving to Mexican side Leon on loan in January 2019. 18 months later they made the deal permanent and he has remained in Mexico ever since, playing for Leon and having a season-long loan spell at Monterrey.

Campbell has played 100 games for Leon but has only found the net on eight occasions, while his time at Monterrey saw him score four times in 34 matches.

Nevertheless, he remains one of the first names on the team sheet at international level heading into next month’s World Cup.

Campbell has played 100 matches for Mexican side Leon, but has only scored eight goals

Campbell has played 100 matches for Mexican side Leon, but has only scored eight goals

Can he dazzle at the World Cup again?

Campbell has played for 11 clubs throughout his career but only scored more than 10 goals for one of them – Olympiacos.

The precocious talent who joined Arsenal as a teenager has struggled to live up to expectations, yet he appears to be a different player in a Costa Rica shirt.

His record of 25 goals in 117 caps is a respectable one, and he popped up with a number of important goals to book his side’s place in Qatar.

He scored the goal that sent Costa Rica to the World Cup as they got the better of New Zealand

He scored the goal that sent Costa Rica to the World Cup as they got the better of New Zealand

Campbell netted winning goals against Jamaica and El Salvador in qualifying to earn his team a spot in the World Cup play-offs. He then scored the decisive goal in the play-off against New Zealand in June to send his country to Qatar.

Costa Rica will not be expected to make it out of a group that contains Spain and Germany, but they have defied the odds before in 2014 to come within a penalty shootout of making the World Cup semi-finals.

Campbell was a leading figure in that team, and if he can rediscover the same form Costa Rica may just spring a surprise or two in their tricky group.