Sol Gamble? Not really

July 2001 a beautiful summer’s afternoon was transformed the sensational news I received from a text saying that ‘Arsenal have just signed Sol Campbell’.  To my amazement as in 2001 to be experiencing the same surprise that he’s back, and this could be Arsene Wenger’s shrewd bit of business ever!

The facts speak for themselves - Arsenal’s central defensive pairing of Gallas and Vermaelen is first choice, but beyond that Arsenal have major league problems. The defensive frailties are in the replacements Silvestre  (if he was so good why would Ferguson let me go for nothing??) and Senderos (only ever played one good game for Arsenal - 2005 FA Cup Final) replacement cover was very much needed.

Arsenal are attacking on three major fronts and if any level of success is to be achieved then another central defender as cover was needed.  That is what Campbell will be, cover - not a starting 11 player but someone when called upon can do the job. Campbell may be 35-years old but he has proved his fitness over the past 3 months to Wenger and the very demanding first team fitness coach Tony Colbert. But most importantly he can provide much needed leadership to younger players who still are yet to hold aloft silverware at The Emirates.

Campbell was part of the successful team that won 2 league titles (2002, 2004) and 3 FA Cups (2002, 2003 (despite not playing in the final) and 2005), he knows what it takes to win trophies and more recently captained Portsmouth to Cup success in 2008, a time which Arsenal haven’t one anything.