Brave Ian Wright has spoken of his sadness after the death of former Arsenal striker partner Kevin Campbell.
It was confirmed on Saturday morning the former Gunners forward had sadly passed away at the age of 54.
When Wright was asked if he’d like to say a few words on ITV’s coverage of Euro 2024 a few hours after the news, the pundit said: “I can’t really go too deep into it, it’s very fresh, I only heard this morning.
“Obviously my best wishes and condolences goes to his family. It’s too soon for me to talk about it.
“If I start to talk about it I’ll start to well up. He meant the whole world to a lot of people, especially myself.”
Wright was visibly emotional as he spoke about his beloved pal.
Following the confirmation of Campbell’s death on Saturday morning, Wright took to X to post some snaps of him and his friend during their days at Highbury together.
Campbell made 210 appearances for the Gunners after coming through their academy, netting 55 times. He helped the Gunners to win the First Division in 1991.
The pair had many special moments together after Wright’s move from Crystal Palace to Arsenal that summer.
Wright and Campbell were one of the club’s best ever strike partnerships, winning the League Cup and the FA Cup together in 1993 and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994.
Campbell then left for Nottingham Forest in 1995 for a fee of £2.5million.
Another of Campbell’s ex-Arsenal teammate Perry Groves also gave an emotional tribute to his friend on talkSPORT.
“Devastated doesn’t cover it mate,” he said.
“Even though we all knew he was ill and was taken poorly a couple of weeks ago, and we know Kev’s a fighter, so we’re willing for him to pull through.
“You get this news and it just… life is just so unfair. You think about things in your own life that go wrong. I’ve got to be honest I’m still trying to process it.
“Most of us, 99 per cent of us, have character defects. Super Kev didn’t have one. He didn’t have one. All the clubs that he played for will say what a fantastic player he was.
“But he was an even better human being. Everybody who met him – he lit up the room when he walked in, he was very humble.”
“I’ve known him since he was a teenager,” Groves continued. “You know, I’ve known him for 38 years. We lost Alan Miller a couple of years ago at a very young age.
“This sounds really… If people pass away when they’re 75, 80, I can sort of process that and go ‘OK’. When someone I’ve known from when I was at Arsenal in the youth team and passes away…
“And you know, for Kev’s family, his immediate family, his children, I really can’t comprehend.
“There will be a huge, huge outpouring of love and respect for Kev and everything will be heartfelt trust me. He was just such a fantastic person.”
News Summary:
- Ian Wright on the verge of tears as he pays tribute to former Arsenal strike partner Kevin Campbell
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