Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, their first appearance on European football’s biggest stage in 20 years.
Sol Campbell knows exactly what it feels like to walk out for a Champions League final wearing the red and white of Arsenal.
Twenty years ago, Campbell faced a Barcelona side featuring Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o and Ludovic Giuly in what was Arsenal’s first ever Champions League final.
Arsenal were controversially reduced to 10 men in the 18th minute when Jens Lehmann brought down Eto’o and was sent off outside the box.
Despite the early setback, Campbell headed Arsenal into a 1-0 lead before half-time, only for two late goals to hand the trophy to Barcelona.
Goals from Eto’o and Juliano Belletti in the space of four minutes, inspired by a cameo from Henrik Larsson, turned the Paris final on its head.
Now speaking exclusively to Football.London, Campbell offered direct advice to Mikel Arteta’s squad ahead of the Budapest showpiece.
“I think the main thing is to play your game and take your chances. Be tight, but when those chances come, take them, because you just don’t know when they’re going to come back again.”
Campbell added that Arsenal have every reason to feel confident if they convert their opportunities against the French champions.
“If the guys can take their chances, they’ve got a good chance, because they are a formidable side.”
The current Arsenal defenders face a similarly daunting challenge to Campbell’s generation, with Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and Georgian star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in devastating form for PSG.
Dembélé and Kvaratskhelia proved unstoppable in Europe last season as PSG won the Champions League, and are hungry to retain their crown in Budapest.
Despite the threat posed by PSG’s attacking stars, Campbell is firmly convinced that Arsenal will emerge victorious on the night.
“I think we’re going to do it. I think it’s going to be high-scoring. I think it’s going to be a 3-2 win for Arsenal. I really do.”
Campbell insisted that fortune as well as quality will play a decisive role when Arsenal take the field against Paris Saint-Germain.
“I think we’re going to play out of our skins and get a little bit of the rub of the green, because you always need that little bit of luck. It doesn’t matter what you say, you do need a little bit. I think we’re going to do it.”
