Gunners back in control of Champions League destiny

With their Champions League hopes dangling by a thread, Arsenal brushed aside all concerns of a premature exit from the competition with a thoroughly convincing 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb.

At another club – maybe at this one in another time – Joel Campbell would have been the best performer on the park in this match.

The Costa Rican, given a rare chance to make an impression on a night that actually meant something to Arsenal’s campaign, didn’t put a foot wrong.

It is just that he has the perverse misfortune of lining up in the same team as such masterful players as Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Sadly for Campbell, they tower over his talents.

Campbell produced one of his best performances in the red shirt as the Gunners won handsomely by 3-0, seizing back control of their Champions League destiny. His night was capped by a splendid reverse ball assist for the third goal, finished by Sanchez.

He was, by anyone’s reckoning, in the top three Arsenal performers. But Ozil and Sanchez – in whatever order – come above him.

Campbell didn’t quite manage to conjure an x-factor – more specifically a confident-boosting goal or two – he will again be shoved aside when Arsenal emerge from their present injury crisis.