If you were to ask what do Alan Smith, Sol Campbell and Alex Iwobi all have in common, it could be a bit of a head-scratcher at first.
Aside from all playing for Arsenal, the players seem unrelated, playing for the club in different eras and all for different managers, but these names are one of the few to play for the club in a European cup final and score, and for Campbell, he perhaps scored in the biggest one of all.
The centre-back’s header against Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League final gave 10-man Arsenal the lead for the majority of the game in Paris before two goals in the final 10 minutes saw the Gunners crumble, and the dreams of a major European cup under Arsene Wenger vanished away.
It would have been a fitting way to win the trophy that has eluded the club for so long. After all, Campbell can be argued to be one of the best defenders to not only play for Arsenal, but also in the Premier League era of English football, and his achievements and story, in particular, make him an icon in the red half of north London.
We all know the story of his move to Arsenal, how the once Tottenham captain just turned up next to Wenger in a press conference on the 3rd July 2001 saying he had signed for the Gunners, a moment that has gone down in history as one of the most surprising and shocking transfers in all of football.
Having already made a name for himself at Spurs as one of England’s best centre-backs at the time, Campbell slotted in nicely in the Arsenal team, playing alongside club legend Tony Adams in his first season at Highbury where the Gunners would go on to win the league comfortably, beating Manchester United to the title by a clear seven points.
Although Campbell and Arsenal were unable to retain the title the following year, the 2003/2004 season saw the defender and that crop of players write themselves into football history, going the entire season unbeaten, and to add rub more salt into the wounds of Tottenham fans, the Gunners confirmed their league title win with a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane.
It was to be Campbell’s finest season in an Arsenal shirt, being named in the PFA Team of the Year and landing himself amongst the club’s elite and winning over the fans who were doubtful that a Tottenham captain could ever win over the hearts of Gunners supporters.
Arsenal fans, what is your favourite Campbell moment? Let us know!
