I thought the Arsenal coach had crashed fleeing the Spurs fans chasing Sol Campbell – police told us not to stop

RAY PARLOR recalled the time he thought the Arsenal side’s bus crashed after leaving White Hart Lane.

The Gunners lost to Tottenham in a 1-1 draw in November 2001.

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However, club legend Parlor recalls the day he and his team-mates almost made it.

Spurs fans created a hostile atmosphere among their north London rivals three months after star defender Sol Campbell left White Hart Lane for Highbury.

And it led to a daunting post-game coaching journey for Arsene Wenger’s side.

In an interview for the official Arsenal programme, Parlor said: “I remember the first time we went back to White Hart Lane after him.” [Campbell] signed in 2001.

“We were on the bus with the police and they told the driver not to stop, just keep going and they would stop the traffic.”

“I said to Arsene Wenger, ‘Why don’t I put a sign in the window that says ‘Sol is sitting here’ so at least they don’t catch any of us by mistake!’

“Anyway, as we turned the corner, we heard a loud crash.

“It scared our lives, we thought a window had gotten in but it was all plates coming out of the cupboard at the back of the bus.”

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“It was amazing, I thought we did it!”

Parlor made his professional debut for Arsenal in 1992 and then played 449 games before joining Middlesbrough in 2004.

He won four FA Cups and three Premier League titles with the Gunners – including one at the end of the 2003/04 season when Wenger’s side went unbeaten throughout the league season.