Wenger taking no risks over Campbell

Arsene Wenger has pledged to Sven-Goran Eriksson that he will not risk Sol Campbell’s fitness for the Euro 2004 finals.

Eriksson is already without Rio Ferdinand due to suspension, while Jonathan Woodgate and Gareth Southgate are now facing a race against time to prove their fitness.

With even Ledley King not fully fit, and the England coach not believing Wes Brown is yet back to his sharpest, he is increasingly relying on Campbell and John Terry.

Campbell, however, has been protecting a groin problem for the past three months, ruling him out of England’s past two friendlies.

Wenger will not remove the centre-back from the firing line completely over the last four games of the Premiership season even though the title has been won.

After all, Campbell himself wants to maintain his match sharpness, while Arsenal are also looking to go through an entire league campaign unbeaten.

However, Wenger has made a promise to Eriksson not to take any risks over Campbell’s long-term fitness ahead of England’s first Euro 2004 game against his native France.

So while the England defender was due to start today’s game against Birmingham at Highbury, he could be left out of one of the remaining three games against Fulham, Portsmouth and Leicester.

Wenger revealed: “If it’s needed, I will leave Sol out. At the moment, he looks all right and wants to play the games.

“But if there’s any problem with him, I will leave him out and I have promised that to Sven.”

Wenger will, meanwhile, also adopt a protective attitude towards France midfielder Sylvain Wiltord, who has suffered a relapse in his bid to recover from ankle problems.

“Sylvain still has inflammation of his ankle. He got a knock on his ankle in the last game and we are a little bit cautious with him,” said the Arsenal boss.

“He is going to the European Championship and doesn’t want to be exposed now, so we will take the needed time with him.

“I don’t think he will play next week against Fulham but he might play in the last game against Leicester.”