Encomium as Arsenal legend dies at 54

Former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell has died aged 54.

Campbell was inundated with messages of support from well-wishers after it emerged he had been admitted to hospital last month, reports Mirror Sports.

His passing was confirmed on Saturday with former club Arsenal saying in a statement: “We are devastated to learn that our former striker Kevin Campbell has died after a short illness. Kevin was adored by everyone at the club. All of us are thinking of his friends and family at this difficult time. Rest in peace, Kevin.”

Campbell started his career as a trainee at Arsenal and made his senior debut back in 1988 against Everton. He went on to enjoy productive loan spells with Leyton Orient and Leicester City before returning and establishing himself at Highbury. The striker scored eight times in 10 matches as Arsenal won the First Division title in the 1990/91 campaign and went on to play alongside Arsenal royalty in Ian Wright. In total, Campbell scored 60 goals in 224 appearances for the Gunners.

After leaving Arsenal in 1995, Campbell spent three years at Nottingham Forest and a brief stint in Turkey before returning to the Premier League with Everton. Campbell impressed on loan initially before signing on permanently and went on to become an iconic figure at Goodison Park. He scored in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool in the 1999/00 campaign and went on to finish the season as the club’s top scorer.

-Mirror Sports