Stakes high for returning Campbell

Uefa Champions League: Arsenal aim tonight for the first Champions League final in their history, but the stakes are higher still for Sol Campbell.

With Philippe Senderos injured, the centre back returns to the line-up against Villarreal intent on proving he should be included in England's World Cup squad. The imperatives run even deeper than that, with Campbell (31) seeking rehabilitation after what even his own manager Arsene Wenger terms "a weakness in his life".

Campbell, hapless during a first half against West Ham in February, walked out of Highbury at the interval. In so sceptical a sport it passed for desertion. After an ankle injury, he had his comeback against Portsmouth a fortnight ago but that brought him a broken nose that required surgery and, in any case, the fixture could not answer the doubts about the defender.

"I agree he showed a weakness in his life on that day," Wenger said of the West Ham game, "but that can happen to anybody. Everybody in our team is capable of understanding that he didn't walk away because he was just fed up but because he couldn't (continue)." The manager, hoping his players can capitalise on a 1-0 lead from the home leg, now has to be the advocate of a man whose record used to speak for itself.

Wenger's options were few once he deemed the youngster Johan Djourou should not be picked.

"It is a little gamble," he agreed, "because Sol has not had the number of games we would wish him to have, but physically he looks all right. Fortunately, he had the game at Portsmouth. He will be okay. I decided to go for Campbell because he has experience. Even if he misses a game or two, he can compensate for that. It wasn't a close decision. Sol Campbell is obvious. The only (reservation) you could have was that he has been out and is just coming back from surgery.

"He is 90 minutes away from a cup final. In the back of (a journalist's) mind there are some other issues but I am certain of his desire to go to the World Cup. So of course it's important for him but I would like him to forget about that and just focus on playing a good football game.

"Is there a better opportunity to show his strength and qualities than to come back in a semi-final when you know you will need to defend well? I don't think so. I trust his quality and his strength. Don't forget he was our central defender when we had our unbeaten run of 49 (Premiership) games. Everybody has complete confidence in Sol."

Sincere as the testimonial could be, Wenger has had no option but to recall Campbell and hope for the best. Senderos's knee injury will probably rule him out for three weeks and his purpose now is to be ready for the World Cup with Switzerland.

If all goes to plan, though, Arsenal will not require siege defending from Campbell or anyone else in a side with its sights on a 10th consecutive clean sheet in the Champions League. "It is certain Villarreal will be less timid than they were in the first leg," said Wenger, "but it's down to us to play the compact game. We have to play to win. It will come down to how well organised we are when we don't have the ball and to how much we dare to go forward when we have it . We are a team that is good when it tries to go forward."

He observes that the watertight defensive record has been "a surprise" yet this unpredictable campaign also imposes stress. Following the contentious draw with Spurs on Saturday, a guaranteed return to the Champions League by coming fourth in the Premiership is no longer in Arsenal's hands. They may have to pin their hopes on re-entering the tournament as holders. "It's the shortest way but the most difficult way," Wenger reflected yesterday.

"I feel quite relaxed," he said, "contrary to the impression I gave on Saturday. I trust completely in this team. What happened had nothing to do with the pressure of getting results. Three weeks ago no one would dreamed we would be where we are and that's why I am taking it in a very positive way."

Wenger envisages Arsenal landing "a big blow" with a goal that would leave Villarreal needing to score three times.

That spark is unlikely to be supplied by Robert Pires. He was not expected to be in the starting line-up and the fact the Frenchman is considering a move to Villarreal in the summer makes it diplomatic to place him among the substitutes.