 "Sol Campbell was among the best centre-backs of his time in the Premier League. Reuters")
Arsenal legend Sol Campbell’s India visit saw him fall in love with the beauty of Rajasthan even as the former Premier League star spent most of his time in Mumbai.
Ahead of the Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur clash in the Premier League this Sunday, Campbell spoke to JioHotstar about his footballing journey and also about his favourite place in India.
“I spent five weeks in Mumbai, but I found Rajasthan truly beautiful," Campbell said. “I visited Udaipur and saw the lakes where the James Bond movie was filmed during my days off. I threw myself into the experience and it was amazing. The landscape, colors, and local artists make it an incredible place.
“Though it was a bit chilly in the mountains, I really enjoyed my time there. Mumbai is also great. It’s vibrant with Bollywood stars, fashion, and constant activity. The city is always moving and grooving. Both places are wonderful, but Rajasthan’s beauty really stands out for me.”
‘Arsenal transfer from Tottenham was not easy’
Widely regarded as one of the best centre backs of his generation, Campbell played for both Tottenham and Arsenal. After nine years at Spurs, he switched to Arsenal in 2001. How this transfer shaped his journey? Not easy at all, he says.
“The truth is, you’re already shaped before you get that big opportunity. If I had a different mentality, I couldn’t have handled that move to Arsenal. I’ll be honest, I had doubts during the transfer and struggled in the first six months. You feel like you’re not growing, but you are growing as a human being. Because the amount of pressure put on you means you have to grow.
“You either swim or you are going to sink. I chose to swim and grow to the next level. It wasn’t easy at all and tested me in many ways, making me question many things at that time. But those tough early experiences helped me push through. Challenges like these shape you, help you grow as a person, and teach you how to move forward in life,” he said.
Best advice from Arsene Wenger
Campbell believes former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could bring out the best out of players who were thought to be at the ending stages of the career.
“The best advice Arsène Wenger gave me was simply to play your game. His system and philosophy were brilliant. He had a system in place and just put players in to play it. He knew how to get the best from players, often extending careers by several years for those who seemed finished both mentally and physically,” he said.