Campbell vows to repay faith

First former Gunner to return is determined to prove his worth

By Steve Pass   Last updated: 14th January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Campbell vows to repay faith

Campbell: Gunners return

Related links

Teams

Also see

Sol Campbell has vowed to repay Arsene Wenger's faith after becoming the first former Arsenal player to be re-signed by the French tactician.

Campbell left the Gunners after the UEFA Champions League defeat to Barcelona in 2006.

He then moved to Portsmouth and had an ill-fated stint at Notts County before heading back to Arsenal to train.

Former England international Campbell played 45 minutes for the club's second string at West Ham on Tuesday night and did enough to convince Wenger he is worth a permanent deal.

Now the 35-year-old is determined to prove his worth to his old boss.

Great compliment

He told The Sun: "It's a great compliment that I'm the first player Arsene's re-signed.

"I've got to repay that faith. I have to contribute. It's a long season, there are big games coming up. Hopefully it all goes well and I play some games."

Campbell spent five years at the club first time around, including helping Wenger's team win two doubles.

The veteran believes his experience will be invaluable among Arsenal's young squad when the going gets tough.

"The likes of me and William Gallas have seen it all before and that's what it's all about really," he added.

"It's showing the young lads when you've got that green light just keep it going.

"When the games are coming thick and fast and you need a win here or a draw and everyone's tired, it's just dragging the lads over the line and getting the result."

Rejuvenated

The rejuvenated Campbell believes he can keep playing at the top level for at least two more seasons.

He added: "If the club carry on training me like this, I can keep going for two or three years playing real good quality. It's all about determination.

"Now, I can play and I've been given a chance and I'm desperate to play. I'm in better shape than I was in the summer, big-time. All the Arsenal staff have done wonders.

"My dream is to stay on past the end of the season but who knows? People like Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini are an inspiration. The main thing is whenever I get a chance I want to bloody show what I can do.

"David James playing for England at 40 is an inspiration to me. But the main thing for me is step-by-step and go from there. It's a dream, a dream come true to be back at Arsenal.

"I had other offers but some people mucked around. Arsene said 'Right, this is it' and I said 'OK, let's make it happen'."