Source: Team_Talk
Campbell praised after Stoke defeat
The 35-year-old defender was making his first appearance for the Gunners since the 2006 Champions League final in Paris against Barcelona.[LNB]Since then Campbell has had spells at Portsmouth and Notts County, but he has signed a contract after three months of training with the north Londoners.[LNB]He could not stop Arsenal losing 3-1 to a physical Stoke outfit, but Wenger was still pleased with what he saw from Campbell, who came in for criticism after Arsenal were twice caught out in the air for Ricardo Fuller goals.[LNB]And the former England man's lack of pace was also exposed by the Potters.[LNB]But both Wenger and Stoke boss Tony Pulis were full of praise for Campbell.[LNB]Wenger said: "Sol had a good game. Considering he has not played for five months, I felt he did very well under the circumstances.[LNB]"He has a future in the Premier League. He has motivation now and has been training very well. His reward was to be back in the side.[LNB]"He may have suffered from fatigue in the final 20 minutes, but that is hardly surprising considering how long he has been away from the top level."[LNB]Arsenal sent out a youthful team in the Potteries, and paid the penalty against an organised, powerful Stoke team.[LNB]Denilson was on the mark for the Gunners, but they lost out to two goals from Fuller and a late effort from Dean Whitehead, the first time Stoke have ever beaten Arsenal in the FA Cup.[LNB]Even Pulis had a good word for Campbell, saying: "I felt his attitude and application was outstanding.[LNB]"He is a very good player and considering how long he has been out of the Premier League, he was excellent. He will be a very good addition to what is already an outstanding Arsenal squad."[LNB]Wenger made nine changes from the side that beat Bolton in midweek, and admitted that only William Gallas was rested.[LNB]Arsenal had minor injury problems with Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen and Gaul Clichy.[LNB]He said: "All of those players will be back for the trip to Aston Villa on Wednesday, the first of four crunch matches for the Gunners against their major rivals."[LNB]Arsenal are then at home to Manchester United on Sunday and have games with Chelsea and Liverpool soon afterwards.[LNB]Wenger said: "If those lads had of played at Stoke, they probably would not have been able to play at Villa.[LNB]"We have ten injuries, and I did not have much room to manoeuvre over team selection, there was not much else I could have done.[LNB]"We might have got away with it (that selection) at home, but away at a place like Stoke it was more difficult. They were physically stronger than us and some of the younger players found it hard to cope."[LNB][LNB][LNB]
