Sol Is Chomping At The Bit

Arsene Wenger says Sol Campbell is almost ready to fight for his place in the first team, and he is raring to go.

Campbell hasn’t been seen since he left Highbury at half time in the 3-2 defeat to West Ham earlier this year suffering aparently from ‘problems of the head’.

When he returned to the team he suffered an ankle injury before he had chance to return to the pitch, but now he is almost ready and the gaffer thinks he is very very close.

‘Campbell is not injured but he is not in the squad,’ said Wenger.

‘For me he is 90% there physically but mentally he is 100% right. I am convinced about that.

‘His attitude and focus in training makes me think that. We have played only big games recently and he is ready to come back at any moment.

‘But the defence is doing well. He will get the opportunity soon.’

Sol may be out of today’s clash with Portsmouth, but no decision has been made on who will partner Toure in the centre of defence against Juventus.

‘I don’t know,’ he admitted. ‘First we must play Portsmouth but Campbell has no problems now.

‘I go from game to game and in the last game the team did well and Sol still needs to work.

‘There is no special meaning in that. I believe Sol will come back into the team very quickly but he still needs a little bit of work.

‘He has played two reserve games and I was 100% happy with his application in them.

‘His attitude is spot-on. He is more focused, motivated, sharp and he will get an opportunity quickly.’