Campbell insists London derby ‘just another game’

ARSENAL defender Sol Campbell has insisted that today’s North London derby against his former club, Tottenham, is “just another game”.

Campbell was keen to play down the significance of the encounter against Spurs beyond the need for Arsenal to maintain their unbeaten Barclaycard Premiership run and their position at the top of the table.

"It's another London derby, so we've got to stay focused. It's just another game, which we have to approach in the proper way and keep things going," he maintained.

Campbell will inevitably receive stick from the Spurs fans, who have never forgiven him for the way in which he went on a free transfer to their main rivals after previously pledging his future to Tottenham.

"It's part and parcel of things now," observed Campbell. "I've been here a few years now, so I want to move on."

Wenger will need Campbell to be at his most influential when Lauren starts a four-match ban following his part in the Old Trafford melee. The North London derby will therefore be the full-back's last domestic game before December barring an appeal.

Wenger, meanwhile, insisted that Arsenal's clashes with Chelsea are more important London derbies, although he accepted that the fixtures against Spurs still hold greater emotional significance.

"You cannot escape the fact that it still remains a big game. Arsenal against Chelsea is more competitive for the top of the league, but, emotionally, Tottenham against Arsenal remains the biggest derby for us," he added.

"I believe that the players see this game as a good opportunity to take three points.

"When you play a Champions League game in midweek, there's no time for us to build up emotionally for the Premiership as sometimes happens before a derby.

"But I'd still say that the expectation levels of the fans of both sides are very high. We know that being in a good position at the end of the season in the league depends on doing well in all the London derbies."

Captain Patrick Vieira is again ruled out of Arsenal's line-up with a groin injury. Centre-back Martin Keown was also still on the sidelines for the midweek Champions League victory against Dynamo Kiev and is also unlikely to make it.

Anthony Gardner should return to the Tottenham side. Gardner's return would be a boost for caretaker-boss David Pleat, who is already without the luckless Christian Ziege, who is facing another lay-off following a knee ligament injury.

Mauricio Taricco is the most likely man to make way, although there are still some fitness concerns over Ledley King, who has just returned to action after a hamstring problem.