Arsenal hero Sol Campbell has paid tribute to former teammate Fabrice Muamba.

The Bolton Wanderers midfielder is showing positive signs in his recovery after collapsing on Saturday against Tottenham.

Campbell wrote in the Guardian: "I was the Arsenal captain when Fabrice Muamba made his debut for the club in a Carling Cup game at Sunderland in 2005 which we won 3-0 at the Stadium of Light.

"While I cannot remember that match too distinctly what I can tell you from my time at Arsenal is that Fabrice is just a lovely lad. I played at Arsenal for many years and met many different players who were at differing stages of their careers but he stood out: as you will have heard other people say since this awful thing happened to him, he is a genuine gentleman with an amazing smile.

"That match against Sunderland was seven years ago so he can only have been 17 - not everyone gets into Arsenal's first team at such a young age so that shows how good he was, the potential he had.

"Fabrice was always willing to learn, he always wanted to absorb knowledge and he was one of those players who gives 110% all the time. He was very athletic, would move the ball on well and he had a great attitude on and also off the pitch - it was top-notch."