Sol Campbell believes the time is right for Arsene Wenger to adjust his transfer policy at Arsenal.
Arsenal go to White Hart Lane this afternoon for the always intense North London derby — a clash which this season has more relevance than mere local pride.
Both teams are contesting a Champions League qualification place with Tottenham marginally ahead of their fiercest rivals.
Arsenal’s failure in cup combat this season has spelt elimination from the FA and Capital One cups and they face a mission near-impossible to overturn a 3-1 home defeat by Bayern Munich in the first leg of a Champions League last 16 clash.
That leaves a top-four finish as the prize in a season when Gunners fans have questioned the price of watching football at the Emirates and queried how top players like Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie have been allowed to leave with no stellar names replacing them.
Campbell — who won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups during his initial five-year spell at Arsenal after his controversial move from Tottenham in 2001 — is the first to compliment the success Wenger has enjoyed on the field and with his transfer dealings in the 16 years at the club. “You have to give him immense credit for what he has done,” said Campbell who returned for a brief spell on loan in 2010.
“And it has been overlooked that while they have not done well in the cups, they have been consistent in the league. They have won their last three matches.
“But maybe there has to be a change regarding transfers.
“It should be done on a more case-by-case fashion. I think the fans deserve that.”
Campbell conceded that, under the present system, Wenger would have not signed Van Persie for £24million at the age of 29.
Manchester United did, and are reaping the benefits with a considerable lead at the top of the Premier League, a second leg at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League to come and an FA Cup quarter-final place assured.
“But Sir Alex Ferguson clearly looked at what United could win if they had Van Persie and decided that if they succeed, that would justify the fee,” said Campbell.
The former England central defender believes today’s clash at White Hart Lane will be a huge test of nerve for the Arsenal newcomers.
“I saw the first match between them this season at the Emirates and although Arsenal won 5-2, Tottenham played with 10 men for most of the game and it could still have been 4-4.
“The sending off of Emmanuel Adebayor was a big factor. With him there for the whole game, Tottenham could have won. So it will be a test for Arsenal at Tottenham, no question.
“And players like Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla, who are playing at Tottenham for the first time, will need to be ready for that first 20 minutes which can be so intense.
“You have to be ready for that or you can be one or two goals down.”
For Campbell, both teams have to be ready for the respective dangers posed by their opponents.
“You have to do your homework in a match like this,” he said.
“Gareth Bale has been in great form and Arsenal need to be alert to that.
“They have to be ready, take him to areas where he does not want to be and where he can do no damage. And they will be aware of the threat posed on the other wing by Aaron Lennon.
“But Arsenal have their talented players as well — players like Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott.
“Tottenham will need to be focused and switched on as much as Arsenal and I feel the match could well be decided in the last 20 minutes.
“It is vital that both teams maintain their levels of concentration.
“Will there be a winner ?
“Yes, I think there will be — but I am not saying who!”
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