Campbell set to complete amazing return to Arsenal

SOL CAMPBELL appears ready to complete an astonishing turnaround and rejoin Arsenal, three and a half years after leaving the club in controversial circumstances. The centre-back was playing for the reserves against West Ham last night and his familiar on-field qualities would provide much-needed cover at centre-back until the end of the season.

“Tonight’s reserve team to face West Ham United at Upton Park features Sol Campbell, who plays on a Reserve League registration, with a view to a permanent move back to Arsenal Football Club,” the club said in a statement.

West Ham would provide apt opponents for Campbell’s comeback as it was a 3-2 defeat against the same club in February 2006 – albeit their first team in the Premier League – that proved to be the beginning of the end of his first stint at Arsenal.

After a nightmarish first half in which he was responsible for two goals being conceded, the defender walked out of the stadium at half-time and did not play again for two months. He left at the end of the season.

Arsene Wenger’s current first-choice centre-backs, Thomas Vermaelen – a €11 million summer signing from Ajax – and William Gallas, have struck up an impressive partnership this season but Wenger’s alternatives are limited to Mikael Silvestre, who has been far from convincing since joining from Manchester United in 2008. Johan Djourou is out for the season with a knee injury, Philippe Senderos is out of favour and on the transfer list and Alex Song – a midfielder who can cover at centre-back – is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon.

The 35-year-old Campbell, who left Highbury for Portsmouth in the summer of 2006, has been training at Arsenal’s Hertfordshire base since leaving Notts County in September and was keen to resume his career as quickly as possible after settling his contract dispute with County.

It is understood there were also offers from Hull and Newcastle, but Arsenal was always Campbell’s first choice, as the club where he achieved great success – including being a key part of the 2003-04 Invincibles side – following a highly-controversial move from Tottenham during 2001.

“He has a fantastic attitude and good fitness,” Wenger said last week. “Of course he is not the youngest, but he is in a very good shape. He can still play in the Premier League, I’ve said that many times. He is important in the dressingroom as well. He’s positive with the young players. Every year we have one or two like that and I think a Premier League club will sign him.”

Campbell spent five years at Arsenal, and won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and scored in the 2006 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.

The impending return of the veteran defender will cast further doubt over the future of Senderos. The Swiss centre-back, currently out with a foot injury, spent last season on loan at Milan and almost joined Everton in the summer.