QUEASY STREET
EXCLUSIVE: Gunners ‘Invincible’ Campbell says players now just don’t have the right work ethic to save their manager
SOL CAMPBELL has warned Arsenal’s stars need to get off “easy street” if they are to save Arsene Wenger from the sack.
Campbell insists the Europa League is win or bust for Wenger (right) but fears the current team lack the never-say-die attitude from Arsenal’s glory days.
Former Gunners defender Campbell even claims that AC Milan are nothing special but have a work ethic that the likes of Mesut Ozil, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the rest are lacking.
Campbell, a member of Wenger’s Invincibles title -winning side, said: “When I watch Arsenal, everyone is working, but there’s a feel of easy street.
“Maybe they’re going through the motions, or maybe this is the new pace of Arsenal, maybe people are looking too much at the club’s history, the success that went before, rather than the reality right now. It’s a totally different team now compared to when I was at the club, or the era of Tony Adams and David Seaman.
“Back in those days, Arsenal had power, pace, skill and drive, a never-say-die attitude.
“There is skill, but the understanding of the demands of the Premier League at the highest level hasn’t quite sunk in with some of the players yet.
“Some of them are just off the pace – not energy-wise but thinking-wise, as though they haven’t learnt how to manage a game, how to get through difficult moments.
“How to batten down the hatches and ride it out. It’s almost like they think skill is always going to get them out of trouble. It’s not. They need to learn what they can get away with and what they can’t. They’re in a flux – ‘shall I stick, shall I go?’
“There’s no cohesive way of playing, they’re not all on the same wavelength. There’s gaps everywhere, people aren’t doing the simple things, and that’s where they need to strip back and build back up.” Campbell fears the walls are closing in on Wenger – but insists the Frenchman can still save himself by winning the Europa League. “If Wenger wants to keep his job, he needs to reach the Europa League final at least, get Arsenal back into the Champions League,” said Campbell. “The guy’s got to go for it. That’s the only thing he can go for. “I can’t see Arsenal getting into the top four through the league, so going through the backdoor like Man United is the glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel. The Europa League is the only thing to salvage their season.
“The board need to wait and see how the season ends, and then look at it. That way, you give respect to the manager.
“Wenger’s had this before – disgruntled fans, even with the FA Cup wins. They’re just disappointed with performances, which have just been way below Arsenal standards.”
Campbell believes Gennaro Gattuso (left) has turned Milan’s fortunes around – they are unbeaten since before Christmas
– with hard work and that is the biggest danger.
Campbell added: “Gattuso has that in-your-face attitude like he used to play. The main thing is he’s brought heart and soul to the club.
“They’re a decent side – it’s just working as a team.”
■■Sol Campbell is a Paddy Power ambassador. Read his columns on news.paddypower.com