1 Nil Down 2 One Up

 A Goal celebration I hope to see in 2012/13

I am sure most of us have been watching the exciting Joel Campbell whilst on loan at Lorient, where thankfully, he was getting a better run of games at the season end, and for Costa Rica. I wrote a blog back in February looking into the background to Wenger’s decision to buy, suggesting Wenger must be hugely keen on this lad and theorising that work permit permitting, we might see him in the 1^st team squad in the new season. (February article at foot of this piece.)

There is no question that most fans, myself included were under the impression that obtaining a work permit for Joel Campbell might be tricky. I certainly was thinking that Joel would not have played enough international fixtures for his country Costa Rica in the past 24 months. This being the case, should Arsene Wenger wish to include Campbell as a 4^th striker in the first team squad most of us thought the only option would be to explore the ‘Exceptional’ talent route we used for Ryo Miyaichi last summer. Well I am delighted to confirm in my view we were all wrong and Campbell receiving a work permit for 2012/13 is a formality and here’s why:- 

First of all let’s examine the criteria set down for footballers for the granting of International work permits

Work permits will be issued to international players of the highest calibre who are able to make a significant contribution in footballing terms to the development of the United Kingdom game at the highest level (i.e. clubs competing in the Premier Leagues and Football Leagues in England and Scotland, the Welsh Premier League and the Irish Premier League in Northern Ireland).

Initial applications

To be eligible for a work permit:

• a player must have played for his country in at least 75% of its competitive ’A’ team matches he was available for selection, during the two years preceding the date of the application; and
• The player’s country must be at or above 70th place in the official FIFA world rankings when averaged over the two years preceding the date of the application.

Competitive matches

The definition of a competitive ‘A’ team international match is a:

• World Cup Finals game;
• World Cup Qualifying group game; and
• Football Association confederation tournament game, for example:
  • The FIFA Confederations Cup;
  • The UEFA European Championships and Qualifiers;
  • The African Cup of Nations and Qualifiers;
  • The Asia Nations Cup and Qualifiers;
  • The CONCACAF Gold Cup;
  • The CONCACAF The Copa Caribe;
  • The CONMEBOL Copa America;
  • The OFC Nations Cup and
  • The UNCAF Nations Cup

I have emboldened the competitions in which Costa Rica could conceivably compete.

This of course has to be evidenced by the applying club as detailed below:

International appearances

Prior to submitting an application, clubs should provide written confirmation of the player’s international appearance record over the preceding two years highlighting the competitive ‘A’ matches. This should be obtained from the player’s home association. The sports and entertainments team, UK Border Agency, will be unable to make a decision on the application until written evidence is provided. If any evidence submitted needs verifying, the sports and entertainments team, UK Border Agency, will liaise with other parties and verify all information through all available sources, if necessary.

The individual situation for Joel Campbell.

So in light of the above criteria and the onus being on the club to ensure all the facts and evidence are presented we should compare the Campbell situation on August 12^th last year when we signed him for Arsenal and his situation this summer. We have all not been seeing the wood for the trees for 2 reasons. Firstly Costa Rica have played so many games in the past 2 years, but so few have been competitive ‘A’ matches and secondly we all know that Joel did not make his debut for his country until last summer 2011.

So here’s the rub:

In August 2011 Arsenal signed Joel Campbell and cannot apply for permit, via the usual route, because he had not played  in 75% of Costa Rica’s competitive fixtures between August 2009 and August 2011.

TABLE A

Summary – Joel Campbell only made his debut in June 2011 and despite playing 6 of the next 7 matches  he had still only played in 6 from 15 competitive A games for Costa Rica in the 2 years prior to him signing for Arsenal his total percentage was 40%. Costa Rica were in the top 70 countries in the FIFA World ranking s but 40% is well short of the 75% and we had already elected to apply for an ‘Exceptional’ talent permit for Ryo that summer so a second application was destined to fail.

As we stand in June 2012

You may have picked up on the fact that I have included no fixtures for Costa Rica in the whole of 2010 in the above table and wondered why? Crucially Costa Rica in fact played 10 internationals in 2010 BUT every single one was a friendly. This is a huge advantage for Arsenal and Joel Campbell, as it effectively wipes 2010 from our next calculation and of course 2009 has dropped out as it is more than 2 years ago.

TABLE B

So as we stand at the end of June 2012 in the last 2 years Costa Rica have played 27 internationals but the only ones that count for the purposed of a work permit application are listed above. There have been 9 matches that fall under the ‘Competitive A’ criteria and Joel Campbell has played in 8 of them. What’s more has scored in 4, including 2 goals earlier this month in World Cup qualifiers. A goal every other game in competitive internationals is a top strike rate.

Simple maths will swiftly tell us that appearing in 8 of 9 possible competitive matches is 88.88%, well above the required 75% for the obtaining of a work permit by the usual and established process.  One final cross check  to ensure that Costa Rica are still in the top 70 on the FIFA rankings, will tell us that yes there sitting at 64^th as of now.

So in conclusion there is no legislative reason why Joel Campbell cannot be added to our exciting new array of attacking options for the new season. It is purely down to how Arsene Wenger  feels about his progress and readiness. Perhaps a loan in the Championship until Christmas but there is NO reason not to secure the work permit now.  He is an exciting unpredictable raw talent with a serious touch of the Henry about him. Indeed his pace , build and his ability to almost lazily curve shots inside posts are eerily familiar. Far more like Thierry than Theo if we are making comparisons to be honest. Strongest on the left, oh dear 4 left footed strikers at AFC, but equally strong with the right, a total two footer.

Anyway I am in favour and for those who have not seen the boy in action, please find below his 2 goals this month for Costa Rica and then a 2011 compilation:

8th June 2012 World Cup Qualifier v El Salvador

12th June World Cup Qualifier v Guyana ( A lob so cheeky the cameraman missed it so wait to end for replay.)

 2011 Campbell highlights compilation 

I know Youtube compilations are not everything but if you read my February piece you will see how swiftly and decisively, Wenger moved for Joel after seeing him perform for Costa Rica. This one is a banker and I feel with our other young talents such as Jack Wilshere, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain etc ‘Super Joel Campbell’  is firmly part of our not too distant future.

(February article 1nildown2oneup.net/super-joel-campbell-next-off-the-lorient-express/)

Until next time thanks for reading:

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