Author Topic: Campbell out of Arsenal's squad (Read 288 times)

Mac 10 † · « **on:** February 02, 2006, 02:52:07 PM »

Campbell out of Arsenal's squad

Arsenal defender Sol Campbell will not play in Saturday's match at Birmingham, manager Arsene Wenger has revealed.

The 31-year-old centre-back was substituted at half-time of Arsenal's defeat by West Ham on Wednesday and left Highbury shortly after.

Wenger said afterwards that Campbell was in a bad "mental shape" and he did not train on Thursday.

Campbell's absence deepens Arsenal's problems at the back, with eight defenders now unavailable.

Ashley Cole, Gael Clichy, Lauren, Kerrea Gilbert and Pascal Cygan are out injured and Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue are away at the African Cup of Nations.

Campbell's crisis could hardly have come at a worse time for Arsenal, who have just been knocked out of the Carling Cup and the FA Cup and are sixth in the Premiership.

BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson believes the England defender is unfit and in need of a boost.

"Sol Campbell is all over the place. He doesn't look fit and because of his build he looks heavy and ponderous," Lawrenson told BBC Sport.

"He's one of those players that needs to be fit.

"But it can change quickly - he's not suddenly become a bad player, he's just got a few problems."

However, Lawrenson feels Campbell will recover from his nightmare performance against the Hammers - and that his early exit on Wednesday will be forgiven.

He added: "The game has changed - in the past a manager would have gone berserk and fined Campbell a week's wages for what he did.

"But Wenger needs him and Campbell strikes me as someone who you need to put your arm around every week."

Intriago33 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2006, 04:12:09 PM »

Quote from: Mac 10 on February 02, 2006, 02:52:07 PM

Campbell out of Arsenal's squad

"He's one of those players that needs to be fit.

it's because Sol Campbell is purely an athelete, he's not a natural footballer and never has been.

Sol Campbell will just keep on falling off now, don't expect him to be fit for the World Cup.