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Sol Campbell reveals how he changed Arsene Wenger’s ‘mentality’, it altered the career of Thierry Henry

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Arsenal’s 2003-04 invincible season has left many player with legendary status in the eyes of supporters.

The incredible season that consisted of 26 wins, 12 draws and precisely zero defeats went down in not only Arsenal history but English football heritage.

The Gunners were presented with a gold Premier League trophy and Arsenal legends such as Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry wrote their name in folklore.

Anorher important member of that Invincible squad Sol Campbell has been explaining how he completely changed the mentality of Arsene Wenger and perhaps re-wrote even more Arsenal history with his actions.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta has changed one thing at Arsenal with record that not even Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho could match

Arsenal v FC Porto - UEFA Champions League
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Sol Campbell reveals how he changed Arsene Wenger’s mentality on one key Arsenal issue

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, former Gunners star Campbell has been discussing his time at Arsenal and particularly his return to the club in January 2010 after becoming a free agent.

Campbell revealed that Wenger was not too keen on the idea initially and had to convince his former boss that the move would benefit an Arsenal side struggling after moving into the Emirates Stadium.

The former Arsenal defender stated: “Going back there [Arsenal] Arsene [Wenger] didn’t want to sign me. He didn’t want to sign me, he said you’ve left and that’s it, you’ve left the club and never going to get the same heights again. That was in his head and I kinda of changed that.”

Henry also made a similar return to the club in 2012 and Campbell believes that wouldn’t have happened had it not been for his success two years earlier.

Campbell explained: “Then after that he started to kind of sign all these players [Henry coming back]. I changed his mentality. He would think that once you left and you go to another club, job done, you’re not going to reach those heights again.”

How Campbell and Henry fared in their second spells at Arsenal

Campbell revealed five clubs wanted to sign him before his initial move to Highbury in 2001 but there wasn’t a big queue for his signature ahead of his second spell.

With injuries to key defenders however, Wenger took the chance on the England international and he didn’t let him his former boss down, Campbell played 14 times that campaign and even scored in the Champions League against Porto.

Henry’s return to the club in 2012 was even more romantic and after serious questions were asked about his condition and ability, the great man answered them in the only way he knew how with a goal on his second debut in the FA Cup against Leeds United.

In his short two month stint at the club, Henry made seven appearances and also scored again in his last match for the club – a winning goal at Sunderland in the Premier League.