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Sol Campbell can clinch an England recall, says his former team-mate Martin Keown
EXCLUSIVE By Martin Keown
Last updated at 1:51 AM on 13th January 2010
I think this is a great move for Sol and Arsenal. Clearly they have been training with him for some weeks - an ideal time to have a close look at him to see if he is at the right level and still hungry.
Having spoken to him in the summer, I’m sure he is. I think he is perfect for the squad. He is a great professional, a good lad to have around and he will be bringing experience to the dressing room.
Brothers in arms: Martin Keown (left) and Sol Campbell
There is maybe a shortage of that sort of player at Arsenal, people who have won a championship. You need people around you who have done it before, to help you over the finishing line. He was always the type of player who led by example, a role model on the pitch. Very quickly, people follow suit.
Sol has always been an incredibly fast player but it will be interesting to see how quickly he can change direction and turn now. There is no question about there being a problem with his fitness or his pace - the club will have seen that first hand. He has been working with Tony Colbert, the Arsenal fitness coach, and if he wasn’t able to work with him and shine, they certainly would not be signing him.
You have got to have at least three top central defenders to win the Premier League. If you have four you are very lucky and, with Sol and Mikael Silvestre, they now have four.
Central defence is not a dissimilar position to goalkeeper. You often get better as you mature. You see the whole game from that position and you grow into it. There comes a time when the athleticism and the reading of the game meet in harmony. I don’t know whether Sol is the other side of that — I don’t think so.
Glory days: Campbell lifts the 2004 Premier League trophy during his first stint at the club
I was still playing when I was 37 in the team that went unbeaten and I’m quite proud of playing at that age. Arsene Wenger has been around the likes of me, Steve Bould and Tony Adams, who all played to a ripe old age. He won’t be frightened by Sol’s age.
Going back to the club you love is great. You just feel so rejuvenated. What’s been great for Sol is that he has been training there for a bit, so it won’t feel as strange. That hurdle has been overcome.
When I went back, it was like a fairy tale. I’d imagined myself going back there at some point and for it to happen was great. I found the first six months a bit surreal.
Nothing had really changed and it felt odd going back to Highbury. It was rather like a time capsule. But, of course, Sol will now be playing at the Emirates.
I’m sure Sol will be absolutely buzzing now and will want to get on that pitch as soon as possible. He is the sort of player who you will have a job to shift from the team if he gets in.
He will be back-up to Gallas and Vermaelen in the first instance but he will be a more-than-able deputy and, if he plays well enough, it could be difficult to dislodge him. That is the calibre you are talking about. I think it’s an excellent move.
Sol will want to get into the side and then try to break into the England team. He’ll want to prove he is the best in his position.
Usually if you make it into the Arsenal, Manchester United or Chelsea team, you’re very close to breaking into the England squad.
EXCLUSIVE By Martin Keown
Last updated at 1:51 AM on 13th January 2010
I think this is a great move for Sol and Arsenal. Clearly they have been training with him for some weeks - an ideal time to have a close look at him to see if he is at the right level and still hungry.
Having spoken to him in the summer, I’m sure he is. I think he is perfect for the squad. He is a great professional, a good lad to have around and he will be bringing experience to the dressing room.
Brothers in arms: Martin Keown (left) and Sol CampbellThere is maybe a shortage of that sort of player at Arsenal, people who have won a championship. You need people around you who have done it before, to help you over the finishing line. He was always the type of player who led by example, a role model on the pitch. Very quickly, people follow suit.
Sol has always been an incredibly fast player but it will be interesting to see how quickly he can change direction and turn now. There is no question about there being a problem with his fitness or his pace - the club will have seen that first hand. He has been working with Tony Colbert, the Arsenal fitness coach, and if he wasn’t able to work with him and shine, they certainly would not be signing him.
You have got to have at least three top central defenders to win the Premier League. If you have four you are very lucky and, with Sol and Mikael Silvestre, they now have four.
Central defence is not a dissimilar position to goalkeeper. You often get better as you mature. You see the whole game from that position and you grow into it. There comes a time when the athleticism and the reading of the game meet in harmony. I don’t know whether Sol is the other side of that — I don’t think so.
Glory days: Campbell lifts the 2004 Premier League trophy during his first stint at the club
I was still playing when I was 37 in the team that went unbeaten and I’m quite proud of playing at that age. Arsene Wenger has been around the likes of me, Steve Bould and Tony Adams, who all played to a ripe old age. He won’t be frightened by Sol’s age.
Going back to the club you love is great. You just feel so rejuvenated. What’s been great for Sol is that he has been training there for a bit, so it won’t feel as strange. That hurdle has been overcome.
When I went back, it was like a fairy tale. I’d imagined myself going back there at some point and for it to happen was great. I found the first six months a bit surreal.
Nothing had really changed and it felt odd going back to Highbury. It was rather like a time capsule. But, of course, Sol will now be playing at the Emirates.
I’m sure Sol will be absolutely buzzing now and will want to get on that pitch as soon as possible. He is the sort of player who you will have a job to shift from the team if he gets in.
He will be back-up to Gallas and Vermaelen in the first instance but he will be a more-than-able deputy and, if he plays well enough, it could be difficult to dislodge him. That is the calibre you are talking about. I think it’s an excellent move.
Sol will want to get into the side and then try to break into the England team. He’ll want to prove he is the best in his position.
Usually if you make it into the Arsenal, Manchester United or Chelsea team, you’re very close to breaking into the England squad.