Sol Campbell Returns: Is Arsene Wenger Mad, or Are We Too Simple To Understand?

In what is without a doubt one of the biggest shocks in the transfer market, Arsene Wenger has done the unthinkable and is close to sealing a deal that will witness for the first time in Wenger's era the return of a former player to the club.

This move was so unexpected that, even when the Arsenal Web site stated that Sol Campbell was training with the Arsenal squad, no one even thought that he was going to be signed by Wenger.

Even when David Beckham trained with the Arsenal team, Wenger refused to look into signing him, and he even overlooked signing Patrick Vieira, who is now a Manchester City player.

So what is it exactly that made Wenger accept Campbell of all people?

He is the oldest of all the names just mentioned, and, unlike Vieira, Henry, and Beckham, he hasn't played on a heavyweight club since 2006.

Well, for starters, Arsenal don't exactly need the likes of Vieira and Beckham on the team right now. Alexandre Song has been the closest to perfection when it comes to the defensive midfielder position. Song's potential and technique not only make him look like a better player than Vieira, but also at his young age he looks a better player than the likes of Yaya Toure and resembles the likes of Michael Essein.

Also, with Arsenal being the team that scored the most goals this season, most of which came from the midfield, Arsenal do not need a player like Beckham. No matter how influential they might be, the Gunners can't stop scoring at the moment.

In fact, for a team to draw with Arsenal, the game usually ends with a 2-2 draw—this notably happened against West Ham and Everton. Only games like Sunderland and Chelsea saw Arsenal walk away without scoring a goal.

So what is the problem that Arsenal have at the moment?

Quite simply, it's defense.

Most of Arsenal's games end up with Arsenal conceding a goal or two. While the arrival of Campbell in no way could kill off this problem, it's sure to slow it and delay the goals from coming.

The point is that when Thomas Vermaelen and/or William Gallas are tired or injured, Arsenal now truly have an experienced player to end the injury crisis. At the moment, Campbell could be the perfect cover player in case of an injury crisis.

Mikael Silvestre isn't originally a centre back; he's a left back. Also, he isn't as experienced as Campbell is.

Maybe the "He's 35 years old...Wenger has lost it" statements that are spreading around the Internet faster than a Rick Roll at the moment are causing some fans panic attacks and the convincing critics to question Wenger's mentality.

But this can all be answered with a certain player's name: Paolo Maldini.

Reaching the Champions League final at the age of 35, where he scored (something that he shared with Campbell), he then became the oldest player to score in the contest. Then winning the Champions League at the age of 37, Maldini is a testament that a footballer, no matter how old he is, does not lose his class to age.

Arguably the greatest defender of all time, Maldini has retired at the age of 41, and while Campbell definitely isn't going to last that long at Arsenal (or anywhere else, to be honest), he definitely hasn't lost what football is about. The fact that he led Portsmouth to a win at the FA Cup in 2008 after leaving Arsenal proves that he still has something to prove to everyone and, most of all, himself.

Like the former Arsenal community leader Maire "The Chief" Ofeire stated in her article, with Ferdinand injured, Campbell will look to prove his worth and try to convince Capello to take him to South Africa for the World Cup. A guy like Campbell should try to go out in style.

While most people are undecided about Wenger's decision, Wenger was going to re-sign Emmanuel Petit at the age of 34, had it not been for his injured knee.

Even though the fans are skeptical, ask anyone who they would prefer when Gallas is injured. Would they prefer Silvestre, despite his good form of late, or an on-form 35-year-old Campbell?

I'd go with Campbell.