Arsenal Football Club News

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60,432

Wenger hints at Campbell role

22 Jan 2010 - 09:00:12

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has dropped a strong hint that Sol Campbell is likely to be included in the squad for Sunday's FA Cup fourth round meeting with Stoke City.

Campbell, 35, was handed a short-term contract which runs until the end of the season by the Gunners earlier in the month after impressing Wenger while training with his former club.

The former England defender was looking for a new club following his decision to leave League Two outfit Notts County back in September and Wenger's decision to re-sign his former skipper was a major surprise.

Campbell has not made the matchday squad for either of the two recent Premier League games against Bolton Wanderers.

However, Wenger has hinted that he will shuffle his pack for the FA Cup and refused to rule out a first Arsenal appearance for Campbell in three-and-a-half years.

Full-back Bacary Sagna and midfielder Abou Diaby have been ruled out with shoulder and calf problems respectively.

"I will assess the situation on Friday and Saturday, but we will certainly make use of the squad," said Wenger.

"We have lost no-one else from Bolton, but some have played on the fringe like Bacary Sagna, who has a bad shoulder. He will absolutely need to be rested."

Referring to Diaby, Wenger added: "He is out for Stoke and certainly for the Villa game.

"There is hope he might be back for Manchester United, but we don't know yet."