Campbell's reputation was enhanced in the summer when he made the FIFA All-Star Squad at the World Cup. Following on from winning the Double with Arsenal, it's clear Sulzeer - Sol is not short for Solomon - is at his peak.

England Under-21 international Defoe is at the start of a career which promises so much. He doesn't turn 20 until October but already holds a record; on loan at Bournemouth he scored in eight consecutive games in 2001.

JERMAIN DEFOE (Striker, West Ham United) v SOL CAMPBELL (Defender, Arsenal)

KNOWN FOR...

Defoe: Lightning pace and confident, clinical finishing. Had a goal riot by the seaside at Bournemouth and has continued his finishing flurry in the Premiership

Campbell: Best tackler in the business, joining Arsenal from north London rivals Spurs and grew in stature as the season progressed. Aiming to make sure Tony Adams' departure goes almost unnoticed
 

HIGH

Defoe: Scoring the winner in front of 67,000 at Old Trafford against Manchester United last season with a bullet header from a Di Canio centre

Campbell: Winning the Double at Arsenal just nine months after becoming English football's highest profile 'Bosman'

LOW

Defoe: Didn't make the impression he would have hoped for during this summer's European Championship in Switzerland

Campbell: Thinking he had scored the golden goal winner against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup only for the goal to be ruled out for an earlier push

CURRENT FORM

Defoe: 13 goals last season usually after coming on as a substitute, Defoe is ready to challenge Di Canio and Kanoute for a first-team spot and push his way into the full England squad

Campbell: Rated by FIFA as one of the best eight defenders in the world, he formed arguably the best central defensive partnership of the World Cup with Rio Ferdinand. Overcame 'Judas' taunts by Spurs fans to have an impeccable season for Arsenal. Started this season solid as a rock.

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THEMSELVES

Defoe: "It is my dream now to play at the next World Cup and if I keep working hard and improving my game who knows what might happen?"

Campbell: "Every player has his own idea of what sort of music is best preparation for a match. I like things that are uplifting but not too mad. Something with a bit of bass."

HISTORY

Defoe: Charlton and West Ham became involved in a high-profile tug-of-war for his services when he was just 16 before he had played a first-team game. The Hammers ultimately had to pay their London rivals compensation for the striker, who scored the winner on his debut at Walsall, aged just 17. Gained first team experience on loan at Bournemouth, scoring 18 goals in 29 games, his eight in a row shattering a club record lasting 73 years.

Now firmly established at West Ham and England under-21s, he scored 13 times last season and will wear the famed Number 9 shirt this season. In red-hot scoring form pre-season, the Chingford-based 19-year-old also scored for England in their 2-1 win against Switzerland in this summer's European Championship

Campbell: Grew up in Newham, east London - an area dominated by West Ham fans. But he was discovered at the age of 13 playing park football by Spurs super-scout Les Cheesewright. Scored on his Tottenham debut against Chelsea. Used in a variety of positions at White Hart Lane before settling in at centre-half. Made his England debut a fortnight before Euro 96 and became the last name pencilled into the European Championship squad by Terry Venables.

His pace, strength, reading of the game and levels of concentration marked him out as one of the outstanding defenders in the Premiership. Starred in the 1998 World Cup and when his contract ran out at Spurs in 2001, he opted to join their fierce rivals Arsenal. The transfer caused uproar among Tottenham fans but Campbell went on to be the Gunners rock in their Double-winning season

COMPARISON

"What we did with Jermain to start with was to put him on late in games, when the opposition is stretched and there is more space to work in," - West Ham manager Glenn Roeder highlighting Defoe's main asset - pace.

"I bought him because I saw that mental strength in him and he became stronger for what he went through." - Arsene Wenger on why he signed Sol from Spurs

 

 

 

 

 


Compiled by Joe Bernstein

West Ham play Arsenal in the Barclaycard Premiership at Upton Park on Saturday, August 24