Joel Campbell says that 2014 has been one of the best years of his career.

The 22-year-old starred while on loan at Olympiacos last season, before playing a key role as Costa Rica reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Now back at Arsenal, the forward is keen to continue his upward trajectory over the next 12 months.

"Winning the Community Shield was a great moment, as was scoring in the Emirates Cup in front of the Arsenal fans - so it’s been an amazing year" Joel Campbell

“It’s been a great year for me,” Campbell told Arsenal.com. “I won the league in Greece and we got to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

“I also was able to go to the World Cup with Costa Rica and we did very well there. Now, I’m at Arsenal playing in the Premier League and Champions League and that is very important to me.

“What’s more, winning the Community Shield was a great moment, as was scoring in the Emirates Cup in front of the Arsenal fans - so it’s been an amazing year.

“I’m getting better and maturing every day, and I think that’s only going to continue in the future. Now I’d like to earn myself a spot in the starting 11 at Arsenal and continue working hard to improve as a player.”

Campbell says the biggest highlight of the year was representing Costa Rica in Brazil, and scoring in their opening game against Uruguay.

“It was an amazing experience,” he said. “Taking part in a World Cup in Brazil is very special in football. The way we performed there was just extraordinary - we had a great World Cup and I enjoyed it very much.

“I’d always dreamed of scoring in a World Cup and I managed to do so - it was a great feeling. That goal set us on our way to winning that match 3-1. The World Cup was an historic achievement for the Costa Rican national side. It made the world sit up and take notice of us.”

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