Campbell will sign new deal: Wenger

ARSENE WENGER has moved to ease any concerns over Sol Campbell’s future at Arsenal by pledging that the England defender will sign a new long-term contract at the club.

Campbell’s current deal expires at the end of this season, enabling him, at least in theory, to start talks with overseas clubs on January 1.

Fears have been expressed that Campbell may therefore leave on a Bosman free transfer next summer, just as he departed Tottenham to move across the North London divide.

He will almost certainly have to take a significant wage cut to remain at Arsenal after being given such a huge signing-on fee, spread over the terms of his four-year deal, back in 2001.

Wenger nevertheless said: “Listen, I bet you any amount you want that Sol Campbell will play at Arsenal next season. I have no doubts that he will be here for the next three or even four seasons. Write that - and if I’m wrong, you can sue me!”

Arsenal are certainly missing Campbell’s influence at the back, given that he is ruled out with an Achilles injury that looks set to continue to sideline him for another couple of weeks.

Following a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace, the Gunners have won just one of their past six games - and that by a reserve side in the Carling Cup - and have slipped off top spot for the first time since January.

Wenger is worried that his team are still feeling the after-effects of their defeat at Old Trafford, although he insisted they would bounce back soon, with a visit to White Hart Lane next weekend.

“When you have gone 49 games unbeaten, it’s a shock for a team as you’re not used to losing. Maybe the way it happened made it even worse and I don’t feel that it (the subsequent run) is completely a coincidence,” he admitted. “But you have to live with that and I don’t think we will have a problem in recovering from that on a longer period. You go through a high, then a low and you come up again. Our spirit and togetherness is very much needed but that’s why I’m not especially worried.

“At the moment, it’s not as easy for us to make the difference in the one-against-ones. You expect that as we’re a light team and on the heavy ground, it’s not as easy as on dry, summer pitches.

“When you don’t feel as sharp physically, then you feel a bit less confident. It’s a period that’s normal in a season. The positive thing is that we didn’t lose.”

Then again, while Arsenal are currently enduring a blip in form, Wenger hopes that west London rivals Chelsea, who now lead the way by two points, may soon face their own mental test.

“Every team has a period where it doesn’t go as well as they expect it to,” he concluded. “We had periods last year when we had problems to score.

“But this team has lost just one league game in 2004 and it is now November.”

Crystal Palace hero Aki Riihilahti still hailed the Gunners as the best team he has ever played against after his equaliser earned his side a 1-1 draw against the champions.

Thierry Henry put the Gunners ahead shortly after the hour mark at Selhurst Park but within two minutes Riihilahti levelled matters, connected coolly with a right-wing cross.

“It was a great performance; they are the best team I’ve ever played against, with world-class players. In terms of team performance it’s the best we’ve played all season.

“We believe we will stay up. We are always going to show commitment and desire and I think that is enough.”