Former Tottenham and Arsenal defender Sol Campbell has once again tried to get himself some attention in the media before the derby this weekend.
The much-anticipated North London Derby takes place on Sunday, and Tottenham Hotspur are desperate to avoid a fourth straight defeat to Arsenal while also chipping away at the rivals’ four-point cushion at the top of the Premier League table.
Thomas Frank already tasted a North London derby win, albeit in a pre-season friendly, where Tottenham were 1-0 winners in Hong Kong, and the Dane will be hoping for something far more meaningful this time around.
One player who’ll be central to that mission is Micky van de Ven, who has been outstanding at the back this season, but is also Spurs’ top scorer with 6 goals, including that outrageous, Puskas-level solo strike in the Champions League against FC Copenhagen.
We haven’t seen him fully open the throttle in defensive recoveries like he did under Ange Postecoglou’s high line, but fans won’t mind if it keeps his hamstrings intact after the struggles of the last two years. In fact, he’s already close to matching last season’s minutes, and we’re barely past November.
Van de Ven is well known for his recorded top speed of 37.38 km/h, which made him the fastest player in Premier League history since those numbers were first tracked. Even if he hasn’t had to use it much yet on the defensive end this season, that pace would definitely come in use when dealing with Arsenal’s pacey attacking threats, Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze.
Sol Campbell compares himself to Micky van de Ven
Speaking on talkSPORT’s YouTube channel, Sol Campbell was asked if he knew any centre-back as quick as Micky van de Ven, to which he replied within a fraction of a second:
“Sol Campbell,” he laughed, before explaining,
“I think you guys have to remember how quick I was. And yes, we didn’t have all the technology around, but I was rapid. You can look at all the stats and things like that… rapid.”
“Also, I could move at the same time, not just in a straight line. You’ve got to be able to change direction as a top centre-half. Definitely, he’s (Van de Ven) one of the quickest out there and a top centre-half, imposing as well, great left foot. Yeah, he’s scored that amazing solo run as well.”
Campbell even claimed he had his own version of that Copenhagen goal.
“I remember doing one of those at the 1998 World Cup, England vs Colombia, but I couldn’t finish it with a goal though.”
Sol Campbell reveals who he is supporting in the North London Derby
Sol Campbell is hardly a favourite among Spurs fans after leaving Tottenham for Arsenal on a free transfer back in 2001, despite being the club captain at the time and having publicly promised to stay.
He went on to win two league titles at the other side of North London, including playing his part in the Invincibles season, and he has been firmly associated with them ever since.
He has often tried his best to keep things neutral when asked about the derby, though he has previously leaned Arsenal’s way. However, this time, in the same chat, he played it differently.
When asked who he was supporting on Sunday, Campbell simply laughed. “No one,” he said, before joking about wearing a beige shirt (a mix of Tottenham’s and Arsenal’s colours) and adding,
“Just be in the middle, nice and easy… sit on that fence.”