Veteran Campbell closes on sensational return to Gunners

SOL CAMPBELL appears ready to complete an astonishing turnaround and rejoin Arsenal, three-and-a-half years after leaving the club in controversial circumstances.

The centre-back lined up alongside rookie centre back Kyle Bartley for the Gunners’ reserves against West Ham last night and his familiar on-field qualities would provide much-needed cover at centre-back until the end of the season. Campbell played the first half of last night’s match as the Gunners claimed a 4-2 win against the Hammers thanks to a Jay Emmanuel-Thomas hat-trick and a goal from Emmanuel Frimpong strike.

Earlier Arsenal confirmed Campbell would feature for the reserves, “with a view to a permanent move back to Arsenal Football Club”.

West Ham provided appropriate opponents for Campbell’s comeback as it was a 3-2 defeat against the same club in February 2006 – albeit their first team in the Premier League – that proved to be the beginning of the end of his first stint at Arsenal. After a nightmarish first half in which he was responsible for two goals being conceded, the defender walked out of the stadium at half-time and did not play again for two months. He left at the end of the season.

Arsene Wenger’s current first-choice centre-backs, Thomas Vermaelen – a summer signing from Ajax, and William Gallas – have struck up an impressive partnership this season.

However, the Frenchman’s alternatives are limited to Mikaël Silvestre, the 32-year-old Frenchman who has been far from convincing since joining from Manchester United in 2008.

Johan Djourou is out for the season with a knee injury, Philippe Senderos is out of favour and on the transfer list and Alex Song – a midfielder who can cover at centre-back – is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon.

The 35-year-old Campbell, who left Highbury for Portsmouth in the summer of 2006, has been training at Arsenal’s Hertfordshire base since leaving Notts County in September and was keen to resume his career as quickly as possible after settling his contract dispute with County.

It is understood there were also offers from Hull and Newcastle, but Arsenal was always Campbell’s first choice, as the club where he achieved great success – including being a key part of the 2003-04 Invincibles side – following a highly controversial move from Tottenham during 2001.

“He has a fantastic attitude and good fitness,” Wenger said last week. “Of course he is not the youngest, but he is in a very good shape. He can still play in the Premier League.”