© EuroFootball.com
England national team defender Sol Campbell returned to London's training camp after a four-day break, the BBC reported on Monday.
The 31-year-old England national team defender had left the team after a 3-2 defeat last Wednesday in a match against London's West Ham, during which he was benched at halftime. The player was at fault for two goals scored by the opponents, so Arsenal coach A. Wenger decided to substitute the defender.
S. Campbell immediately left the stadium and disappeared from the club without informing anyone of his whereabouts, but on Monday he was already training with his teammates. The defender missed the 2-0 victory against Birmingham on Saturday, and the press quoted his teammates and acquaintances, saying that the footballer needed to sort out personal problems.
On Saturday, S. Campbell's lawyer issued an official statement denying alleged comments from Arsenal players: "Sol is fine. He needed time to think everything through. He really doesn't have any personal problems and will be back training next week."
According to A. Wenger, he will now try to help the player "recover and focus solely on playing football", as it is the "best medicine". Arsenal's leader Thierry Henry welcomed the defender's return, saying that "having Sol in defense makes you feel safer" and promising to "wait for him with open arms."
"Sol is a strong personality, he will do what needs to be done and what he thinks is best. Playing a couple of bad games doesn't make you a bad player," supported his teammate in the England national team, Real Madrid star David Beckham, who will face Arsenal in the Champions League at the end of February - "I wish he played against us because he is not only a close friend of mine, but also a great player, and I want to compete against the best."
Meanwhile, West Ham defender Nigel Reo-Coker was dissatisfied that S. Campbell's problems overshadowed his team's victory, but also did not spare praise for the opponent: "It's not pleasant, because he is criticized for the match he played against us, and therefore our own efforts are not appreciated as much as we deserve. Regardless of what people say, to me Sol is a fantastic defender - one of the best in the country and in the world. He is an example for young defenders, and I think we should respect him."
