EXCLUSIVE: Sol Campbell reveals advantage Tottenham hold as he makes prediction for Arsenal clash
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Sol Campbell offered his prediction for the North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium
Sol Campbell believes Tottenham have "nothing to lose" in the North London Derby - with all the emphasis on title-chasing Arsenal.
As the Gunners look to respond to their draw to Sunderland, Campbell has encouraged Mikel Arteta’s players to handle the challenge of facing such an unpredictable element.
Speaking on behalf of Paddy Power, he told Football London: “I think [Spurs] definitely have nothing to lose. I mean, that's the thing sometimes, when you've got nothing to lose.
“The second you become established and then people are relying on you, that's a different type of pressure.
“So, they've got nothing to lose, and so the defenders have to counteract that and make sure they're ready for the game because sometimes when you’ve got nothing to lose, you do things in certain scenarios.
“You do this run, but you probably never usually do that type of run, and you can surprise. That's the thing with a team that’s looking to upset, they're willing to try things.
“And sometimes you can't always predict, and that's the thing. I think Arsenal have to be wary that they have nothing to lose, and that's a scary place to be in.
“You've got to handle that because, if they lose two or three nil, who cares? But they might nick a 2-1 win, and that changes the whole perspective of the league.”
Campbell also revealed what Riccardo Calafiori’s new defensive partner might need to do in the wake of Gabriel Magalhaes’ injury. The Italian is known for his exuberant style that sees him break lines and pop up in areas no one would expect of a left-back.
Asked what he would do if partnered with someone like the 23-year-old, he said: “I think it depends on how comfortable you are with the space around you. Some defenders want people, players around them.
“Others are quite comfortable with green, a lot of space, and they can command that space, and they don't mind, they're quick and they're nimble, and they're very clever, and they make sure they're in the right position.
“I would say it depends on where you are in your career. I think if I'm 35 years old playing there and someone goes scarpering and I've got massive amounts of green, maybe not, I want my left back there.
“If I'm 23, 24, it's not a problem because I'm as quick as anything and have good positioning.” He added: “Ashley Cole was one of the first guys to be doing that. He used to pop up for goals and whether he's on the right side is another thing.
“Not on the right side, but he's definitely up and down, operating in the midfield and operating up and down the left side and scoring, popping up and scoring goals. But I don't think he made it across to the right side.”