It was a bit of an eyebrow-raiser when former Arsenal stalwart Sol Campbell returned to the club on a free transfer from Notts County in 2009, but nothing could possibly top the frenzied nature of his move across north London in 2001. It was a move for which he is still vilified by Spurs supporters, hated by certain sections for his treachery in signing for the enemy after nearly a decade at White Hart Lane. In the summer of 2001, the Spurs captains contract had expired, and despite the club offering to make him the clubs highest-ever paid player, he subsequently reneged on public assurances that he would stay at Spurs and signed for Arsenal on a free transfer. The hatred and bile that Campbell received from Spurs supporters for the rest of his career was almost unparalleled, with some supporters even banned from football grounds from three years after being found guilty of chanting homophobic and racist abuse at their former captain.
''Im sorry about the situation with me and Im sorry how it happened. Im not going to apologise for the move because I was very successful. Im sorry about the hurt it inflicted on them. - Sol Campbell, March 2014.
It was a move that has probably made certain players wary about crossing the north London divide, but considering the eight medals that Campbell collected at Highbury, he probably doesnt regret a thing. So that's a wrap - do you agree? As always, feel free to leave your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
