Campbell starts for Gunners in Norway

Sol Campbell started his second game in the space of five days when he lined up in the Arsenal defence for tonight’s Champions League encounter with Rosenborg in Norway.

The England centre-half only returned from a long lay-off because of an Achilles problem at the weekend, but he was nevertheless again selected by Arsene Wenger as he looked to build on the win over PSV Eindhoven in his side’s opening Group E match.

With Brazilian midfielder Gilberto Silva facing at least a month out with a back injury, his countryman Edu lined up with skipper Patrick Vieira in the Arsenal engine room.

Robert Pires shook off the foot injury which kept him out against Manchester City to start on the left of midfield, with young Spaniard Jose Antonio Reyes moving into attack alongside Thierry Henry in the absence of non-flying Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp.

Rosenborg coach Ola By Rise was unable to call on veteran midfielder Orjan Berg because of a knee injury, so Jan Gunnar Solli deputised in midfield.

Roar Strand recovered from a groin strain to play, while former Celtic striker Harald Brattbakk was also in the starting XI.

The Norwegians, back in the elite European club competition after missing out last season, were looking to defend a proud unbeaten home record in the Champions League, which stretches back to September 2001.