"/Players/__6" mce_style="<a">...

Circa 2006. Arsenal 2-0 down at the break. One certain Sol Campbell was to blame for the looming defeat at the hands of West Ham. As a result, Wenger took him off and with it came supposed curtains on one of the more decorated central defenders in recent time.

Cut to 2010. Arsenal 2-0 up at the break. Against who? You guessed it, West Ham! And guess who was taken off at HT this time around? You got it, the good'ol Sol Campbell. Only this time it marked his second homecoming.

11Gunners celebrates his journey back into the Arsenal dressing room..

Controversy and Campbell don't just have 'C' in common, they go hand-in-hand if I may. Although rough and brawny by looks, Sol happens to be one of the most soft-cored guys on the football circuit, but his habits poked otherwise. Most notably his move from Tottenham to Arsenal in '01, which made him the ire of many a brunt. His spell at Highbury was a throughly successful one, coupled with 2 League triumph's and two FA Cup's. An 'Invincible' that he was, his contribution to the national side was no less immense. He pulled the 'Three Lions' jersey in no less than 6 consecutive Fifa tourneys, and was named in the 'All-Star XI' 2 times. And ofcourse his goal in the Champion's League final against Barcelona can not be forgotten by any Gooner, ever. But why are we looking back at Sol's career? After all 2006 was not when it culminated, right!?

Departure from Arsenal led him to Portsmouth, and against all odds, the winner that he is, he ended up winning the FA Cup yet again. Now that puts him ahead of almost every member of the current Arsenal line-up, as far as tasting success last, is concerned! And if you thought he was done with the 'I-shall-surprise-you-again' bit, you were rightly wrong. Under the disabled tutelage of Sven G Eriksson, he made a move to Notts County, way down in League 2. Money could be the prime motive behind a move as audacious as this, and for most parts it was. £40,000 a week was what he raked down there, a steep £10,000 less than what he made at Pompey, yet more than the combined worth of his team-mates at Nott's, not bad for a disgrunted 35 year old! But money is not what drives winners, and Sol proved this by backing out from the ambitious project in hand, and instead knocking on Wenger's door to help his cause. And thus began another journey, only this time he had nothing to lose, and all to prove. And boy, does he love being challanged or what!?

Wenger, like he did with Beckham last season, took him over and helped him get back to shape with his team of unbridled physios et al. 2-3 months of 'do-it-all kinda' grinds and voila, Sol was back to his could-be best. And then came the moment no one could possibly foresee. For the first time ever, Arsene offered one of his ex-recruits, a fresh contract, and also for the very first time, he went for a over-35 year old. Rumours were doing rounds that it would be Vieira, if anyone, who shall be brought in to provide some experience right through the spine of the team, but it was not to be. Whilst 'the Citizens' procured the services of Patrick, 'the Gunners' prized back one of their finest for £20,000 a week, performance-based contract. Skeptics are out and firing all cylinders with their views on this 'Transfer-of-the-Mid-Season-so-far', but take word, its worth the penny.

Wenger bought him for free from the Spuds, sold him for the same to the Pompey, and re-bought him for again nothing from Notts County. How shrewd is that!? Apart from his disastrous eye-opener in League 2, way back in September, he has been a success elsewhere, and no point he won't be now. Not only did Wenger save on his war-chest by getting him for free, in him, he also got someone who knows how to finish seasons off (on the winning side i.e.). Gallas & Vermaelen apart, our backline is as slim as slime is not. Senderos, being the sulk that he is, wants to move out of N5 with the first suitor that comes along. Silvestre, even in his prime with United, was a liability. And Djourou, well, let's just say, he is still injured. Also Song is away for the Africal Nation's Cup. So not only were our options bleak, but also blunt. Rubbish, to keep it short. Agreed, Sol can't fill in for every League game at peril, but what he will provide is, cover during the Cup games, and if the need be, otherwise as well. Let's not be fooled here thinking Wenger has signed him for emotional reasons, because that he simply can't. When it comes to transfers, Arsene is as ruthless as you get. We saw that with likes of Vieira, Pires, Ljungberg, etc. But at the same time, he has an uncanny knack of picking out players and extending their careers by several notches. Ask Keown, Seaman, Dixon, Bergkamp. Having seen him day-in & day-out, for over 3 months now, I am sure Wenger was assured that Sol's presence will indeed be a helpful one in our case and cause. And we don't doubt our Professor, do we!? We trust him, right!?

And if the above was not testimony enough, just hold your guns for a few. Sol shall surprise us all over again. Keep the faith Gooners..