Sol Campbell on Arsenal memories, Arteta’s ambitions and the power of giving back
By Josh Harris, 18, Sports Correspondent
Arsenal and England legend Sol Campbell reunited with his former Invincible teammate Gilberto Silva at the StriveAid 2026 charity match at Worthing FC last Saturday.
While Silva relived his glory days by lacing up for his side, Campbell took charge from the dugout, stepping in as manager in place of StriveAid’s long-time ambassador Roberto Carlos.
My conversation took us through some of the defining moments of his career.
Arsenal sent shockwaves around the English football world when they announced the secret signing of former Tottenham captain Sol Campbell in 2001.
Sol, who captained Spurs from 1997-2001, had openly promised he would extend his contract, which was due to expire in the summer of 2001. But with a desire to chase titles and play European football, Sol later announced that his time at Tottenham was over.
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger and vice-chairman David Dein held clandestine meetings with Campbell starting around 11pm. The talks took place away from the media at private homes to avoid detection.
Wenger and Dein used these covert sessions to pitch Arsenal's ambition, structure, and Champions League football, which eventually convinced the England defender to cross the North London divide.
Shortly before his departure, Sol assured Tottenham fans that he would “never join Arsenal” during an interview with Spurs Monthly Magazine.
Due to the fierce rivalry between the two clubs, it seemed unfathomable that a move to Arsenal would materialise.
So when Campbell was unveiled as an Arsenal player to the media, he became one of the most polarising figures in football history. 25 years later, it remains one of the most infamous transfers in English football history.
However, in our interview, Sol defended his decision.
"I was a young man and I wanted to win."
“I didn’t enjoy the politics of football around this time.I’m sure that there will be another move like this in the future.”
It didn’t take long for Sol to get his hands on the silverware that he craved.
In the 2001/2002 season, Arsenal went on to win the Premier League and the FA Cup, achieving what is known as the traditional ‘double’
That season, Sol played a total of 48 games for the Gunners, netting three times, including a famous winner away at title rivals Newcastle. He went on to be a key figure in Arsenal’s historic season.
“Winning the double in my first year at the club was very special for me.
“There was a lot of pressure on me in that particular season so to win the double was incredible.
“Achieving it with Arsenal meant everything to me. It was a dream come true.”
As Sol reflected on his career, he explained that rising to the big occasions was a core part of his footballing identity.
“I miss gearing up for big games. On the nights of big games, when things are on a knife edge, that really made me feel alive.
“The more that was at stake the more focused I was.”
Now, 20 years after leaving the club, Sol still expresses affection for his beloved Arsenal.
He went on to share his thoughts on the club’s current state of affairs.
“It’s Arsenal’s best opportunity going forward to create a real dynasty.
“There's a lot of chaos in the league, but Arsenal look really settled. It’s time for them to push on now.
“Mikel (Arteta) has done incredibly well, congratulations to him and the club for last season.
“They were unlucky in the Champions League Final, but the most important thing is that Arsenal have finally got that premier league title under their belt that has eluded them for many years.”
Gilberto Silva got the better of his former teammate on the pitch last Saturday, with Team Gilberto coming out 11-5 victors in a good spirited, fun-filled game of football.
Good News Post
Following the conclusion of StriveAid 2026, Sol explained why StriveAid is such an important cause
“Strive aid is such a great event, it’s important to give back to the people. It's nice to raise awareness for people who are struggling.
“It’s great to get the kids involved by mixing football with mental health awareness.”
After a great day in Worthing, Sol fully intends to be involved in next year's StriveAid event.
