Sol Campbell believes seven members of Arsenal’s current squad would have been good enough to play some part for the club’s historic ‘Invincibles’.
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Gunners last landed Premier League title in 2003-04Completed that entire top-flight campaign unbeatenArteta hoping to enjoy similar success with class of 2025Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
Back in 2003-04, the last time that the Gunners lifted the Premier League title, the north London outfit completed an entire top-flight campaign unbeaten. Arsene Wenger was calling the shots back then, while all-time greats such as Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp formed part of star-studded ranks.
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England international Campbell was a defensive rock, with the classy centre-half savouring two championship wins and a couple of FA Cup triumphs during his iconic first spell with Arsenal. Mikel Arteta’s class of 2024-25 are hoping to enjoy similar success in the present and immediate future.
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They have plenty of talent at their disposal and Campbell – speaking as part of the campaign – told GOAL when asked who could make it into the fabled ‘Invincibles’: “The two centre-halves – [William] Salbia, definitely, and Gabriel for sure. I think [Bukayo] Saka as well. [Martin] Odegaard looks like he could do a bit back in the day for us. [Gabriel] Martinelli as well, he can be incredible. [Jurrien] Timber is looking really good. Also [David] Raya, the keeper.
“It’s difficult because the physicality was different for a keeper. You would have to deal with guys that would really block you in. This blocking the keeper has been around a long time in football – Stoke used to do it, Wimbledon back in the day. It’s not new rocket science now, blocking players or keepers, or blocking paths. It’s just about being clever with it.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Campbell was joined in Wenger’s starting XI on a regular basis in 2003-04 by versatile Ivorian Kolo Toure, with the pair forging quite the centre-half partnership. Saliba and Gabriel now provide the steel at the heart of Arsenal’s defence and are considered by many to be the most formidable duo in European football.