Sol Campbell never seriously thought he would win another contract
at Arsenal - but he's there now and targeting two more seasons at
the top.
Campbell looked set for football's scrap heap in September
last year when he left Notts County after just one, disastrous,
appearance for the League Two outfit.
Campbell never thought his time in football was up, however,
and was always confident of securing a move to a Premier League or
Championship club.
The 35-year-old began training with Arsenal to keep his
fitness up but he "never gave a single thought" about a return to
the club until January.
He was eventually handed a six-month deal by the Gunners and
now believes he can play for another two seasons after this one at
the top level.
"I've always believed in my own ability, but never thought
I'd play for Arsenal again," Campbell told The Times.
"I came back to try and keep fit, with a view to getting
another club, in the Premier League or the Championship. I trained
by myself for three weeks, which was hard work mentally. I tried to
do everything - jogs, sprints, in and out of cones, I went
swimming, anything just trying to get the best out of the
facilities I had. Ball work was pretty difficult on my own!
"I started training with the first team after about a month,
just popping in to help out if they were a few bodies light. I was
the spare man, but didn't mind. It was like going back to school,
but I didn't mind starting again.
"I never gave a single thought about playing for Arsenal
until January, when Arsene Wenger started to consider it. It was a
gradual process. He never said, 'we're short Saturday, can you
play?' Not quite anyway.
"The boss saw me training, making better times, playing okay
and how I was conducting myself around the club. He said he was
thinking about signing players, but they were a bit top-heavy with
defenders so I'd have to wait."
Campbell added: "I had a few other offers, but once this one
came along there was only one winner.
"Everyone else was blown out of the water. There were a few
things to sort out as they had a few defenders, but I said to the
boss, 'However long you want me to wait, I'll wait'. He was honest
and said he wouldn't stand in my way if a move came up, but I was
prepared to wait. I don't mind being patient."
Campbell is only contracted to Arsenal until the end of the
season, but he reckons he is well capable of performing at the
highest level for a few years yet.
"I think I can keep myself fit and play top football for the
next two to three years," he said.
"This season and at least another two. I'm here for six
months, and if something happens, something happens.
"If not I'll have to look elsewhere. The manager's told me
I've got to the end of the season and he's looking for other
players, but I want to play as many games as possible for Arsenal
and help them to win something."
Campbell is in the process of suing former employers
Portsmouth for £1.7million in outstanding payments.
A legal battle is the last thing the financially-crippled
South Coast club need right now, but Campbell insists he is well
within his rights to fight for what he is owed.
"I can't say too much about Portsmouth as the process has
begun," he said.
"There's a lot of other people who've taken far more out of
the club than me. As far as I see it, if you have a contract, you
have a contract. That's it, and it's only fair.
"If you get something written down, that's what you're owed.
How's that going against football? I signed that contract in good
faith.
"Some of the other players have got contracts and they've not
been paid either. It's clear, it's stated, it's in people's faces.
I'm not exactly going to be the one that brings them down."
