Campbell season at mercy of Halsey

Sol Campbell is ready to throw himself on the mercy of referee Mark Halsey to save his season, and possibly Arsenal’s double double dream as well, after being sent off in the titanic clash with Manchester United.

The England centre-half faces a four-match ban which would include next month’s FA Cup final and vital Premiership games at home to Leeds and Southampton plus a last-day trip to Sunderland, unless Lancashire official Halsey decides that the straight red card for elbowing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was too harsh.

The incident came eight minutes from the end of the 2-2 draw at Highbury, with Halsey feeling obliged to consult a linesman before issuing marching orders.

And Campbell admitted: “I did touch him, but it was not deliberate.

“Of course, I’m devastated but I’ve already spoken to the referee and he’s willing to look at it again on the video.

“If he doesn’t agree it was accidental then I guess that’s it, really. That could be my season and it’s really tough because I’ve worked so bloody hard to get this far.

“It wasn’t as though I was looking for him (Solskjaer), turning around and trying deliberately to injure him.

“Everybody knows I am not that sort of player and hopefully the video will prove it to the referee.”

With Patrick Vieira, who suffered a recurrence of a knee injury on Wednesday night, also likely to miss the next two away games at Middlesbrough and Bolton before Campbell’s ban is due to start, Arsenal still look to have a massive task to retain the title despite a game in hand over United and a marginally superior goal-difference.

Unless Halsey withdraws the red card, Campbell, who registered the 49th dismissal under manager Arsene Wenger’s seven-year tenure, will have to serve an automatic three-match ban plus one game extra as it was his second red card this season.

Ironically the first came at Southampton, next month’s cup final opponents, in a 3-2 defeat in November.