Sol's fulfilment at White Hurt Lane

Wenger pays tribute to Campbell as England defender ignores the taunts of treachery with display of authority on his first return to Tottenham

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Poyet pops up to burst Campbell's balloon

Sol Campbell retreated from White Hart Lane yesterday with the jeers still ringing in his ears and a precious point tucked into his suit pocket. White balloons inscribed with the word "Judas" and a few well-placed placards bearing the same insult greeted the former Tottenham captain on his return. The jeering was relentlessly shrill. Yet, for all Tottenham's late equaliser in a 1-1 draw, the last laugh was on the home fans.

It was a day for Sol to be strong, said Arsène Wenger, and Campbell took his manager at his word, cutting a disconcertingly familiar figure to those who had traced every step of his 10-year journey through the Lane. "That was his best game for Arsenal," said Wenger. "It was a difficult match for our central defenders because they played a typically English game. But from the first tackle you could tell he was up for it. Tonight, I think Sol will feel stronger. He can be proud of the way he handled the situation."

Gone was the nervy figure of the season's dawn; through the smoke and dust of a torrid afternoon there emerged the commander of old, sure on the ground, strong in the air. Deep down, buried beneath the bile, the effigies and the sense of betrayal, Tottenham fans found an uncomfortable truth spread over 90 minutes of derby mayhem. For all the impressive maturity of Ledley King, given an extra cheer as his nominated defensive successor, Campbell's experience will be sorely missed as Glenn Hoddle tries to fashion a designer chic team worthy of the club's tradition.

Campbell, a quiet and sensitive man, has shown every sign of being distracted by the peculiar hatred his change of office has stirred. Wenger has mused often on when the real Sol Campbell would emerge from the darkness. Highbury – and England – have seen only a shadow so far this season. So Wenger's half-smile yesterday evening was understandable. At least he has his centre- half back. Sven Goran Eriksson would doubtless say the same. "I think it is quite good for England because this guy has shown he can play under tremendous pressure," added Wenger.

Campbell's face betrayed little of the torment he must have been suffering. Returning home is an emotional experience at the best of times and the past few months would not be too happily logged in his memory bank. The journey across North London has prompted a lot more doubts than merely deciding which way to turn off the A10. After 315 appearances, Campbell's compass must have been scrambled by the need to change in the dressing-room marked "away team". "I didn't feel I had anything to prove," said Campbell. "But when you come back to your old club, you've got to give a good account of yourself. It was a tough day, but sometimes you have to be big."

Campbell's composure even extended to intervening in a potentially explosive confrontation between rival captains Teddy Sheringham and Patrick Vieira in the tunnel at half-time.

Glenn Hoddle had spent much of his week trying to be the peacemaker and Sheringham, Campbell's successor as Tottenham captain, also lent some sense of perspective to the return of a decent club servant in his programme notes. There was little suggestion, come Campbell's first appearance on the White Hart Lane turf at just before 2.30pm, that the traditional myopia of Spurs fans was about to be discarded in the name of common courtesy.

The whistles were a mere warrm-up act. But Hoddle's midweek comments were entirely valid. While Hoddle himself had broken his contract to sign for Monaco, Campbell had played it by the book of Bosman and simply chosen to seek work elsewhere. Only football could summon the laws of tribal identity to justify the subsequent accusations of treachery.

Campbell should perhaps have listened to wiser counsel before making his move. Not because of the iron curtain between Tottenham and Highbury, but for the benefit of his own international career. Campbell wanted to serve a more ambitious club and to play regular European football. Time, at the age of 27, was running out. But where better than Europe itself to learn the art of defending? Swapping Tottenham for Arsenal was no more daring than changing washing powders.

Yesterday, though, was strictly personal, the first and best chance for Tottenham fans to remind us of football's unparalleled instinct for a vendetta. With Campbell an easy target, they had two for the price of one. But a mere 10 minutes after kick-off, the terraces forgot the chief villain of the afternoon just long enough to muster a well-worn anti-Arsenal chant, which, for once, was music to the ears.

Campbell, though, was unflinching in his concentration, the comfortable victor in his own duel with the Tottenham striker Les Ferdinand. There was little he could do about the late equaliser by Gus Poyet which earned Tottenham a deserved point and dampened Arsenal's celebrations.

At the final whistle, Campbell turned to give the Arsenal supporters prolonged applause before receiving a robust handshake from Hoddle. "It was difficult for him, but he acquitted himself very professionally," said Hoddle. Now that the ordeal is over, Campbell can settle down to life in his new home. Gone, but not forgotten or forgiven in the old country.