Gallas: Could be replaced by Toure as captain
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has backed Arsene Wenger's call to take the club's captaincy off William Gallas.
The France international remained in the capital on Saturday, while the rest of his Arsenal team-mates were in Manchester falling to a 3-0 defeat at Eastlands.
Gallas did not travel after making a series of critical comments about his team-mates while on international duty in midweek.
After the loss at Manchester City, Arsene Wenger refused to comment on the situation and insisted no club statement would be forthcoming.
However, speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Hill-Wood declared: "This issue has shown that Arsene can be ruthless. He has to be otherwise people can run all over you.
"As for whether Gallas has a future at the club, that will be up to Arsene. But I think Gallas has got a problem. Arsene will advise the board over that and we will support him no matter what.
"We will all be at The Emirates on Tuesday [for the Champions League fixture with Dynamo Kiev] and I am sure the matter will be discussed with Arsene. And 100 per cent we will endorse what he decides about Gallas."

Latest Sky Sports News Report
Championship Round-Up - 7th November
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ferguson
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ancelotti
Hull 2-1 Stoke - Bullard
West Ham v Everton - 1st Half
Wigan v Fulham - 2nd Half
Wigan v Fulham - 1st Half
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Liverpool vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Hull vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Arsenal |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Everton |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Wigan |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Everton |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Sunderland |
| 17:30 | Aston Villa vs Tottenham |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 Man Utd | |
| West Ham 1 - 2 Everton | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Fulham | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Bolton 0 - 4 Chelsea | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Fulham 3 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Burnley 2 - 0 Hull | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
Skysports.com looks at the best and worst moments from the latest round of top-flight fixtures.
Have a read through the skysports.com debate on Chelsea's 1-0 win over Man Utd at Stamford Bridge.
Pictures from Sunday's Premier League action where Hull snatch victory and Chelsea beat Man United.
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United will revel in their quest to topple Chelsea from the top of the Premier League table.
Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas is refusing to get carried away by his side's free-scoring form.
Rafa Benitez has revealed that Steven Gerrard could return to the Liverpool fold against Birmingham.
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Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Didier Drogba sustained a slight knock against Manchester United.
Comments (7)
Gregory Turner (Crystal Palace fan) says...
William Gallas only confirms what everyone ( including Darren Bent ) already knew. There is something rotten at the Emirates. Arsene Wenger's refusal to hang out the dirty linen for all to see is indicative of his refusal to come to terms with reality. We don't need to see your dirty linen , Arsene Wenger, we can smell it.
Posted 12:52 23rd November 2008
David Smithy (Gateshead fan) says...
Gallas has never been captain material. Simple as that.
Posted 12:43 23rd November 2008
Braggy Man says...
I think W Gallas was absolutely right to express his frustration on what has been going on behind the scene which is demoralising the team spirit of almost all the players and fans as well. Arsenal is not a mafia and folks should understand that without the fans the team would mean nothing. We may see more to come. Again, I think the press must have added more honey and suger to gallas comments, as ussual...
Posted 12:25 23rd November 2008
Martin Durnell (Arsenal fan) says...
I agree with Callum. Fabregas would be a good choice but there are a few players worthy of the armband. Gallas' comments just goes to show the level of fustration at the moment. Arsenal need to win silverware this season or i think a couple of big names will be heading for the door. Our youth structure is amazing but we cannot rely on the 'future' players to save face. Inconsistancy at Arsenal's level is dangerous. Losing to the lesser sides cannot go on. One week beating Man Utd in an awsome display and previously losing to teams like Hull etc is beyond comprehension. Come on Arsenal, pull your socks up.
Posted 12:22 23rd November 2008
Gary Bull says...
I personally think this sacking of Gallas has come nearly a year to late. He should have had the armband taken from him after that childish tantrum against Birmingham last season. Could you ever imagine Tony Adams, or Patrick Vieira doing that. Now that Gallas is no longer Captain it is time to look forward, stop worrying about the prem cos thats gone, and start thinking possitively about winning the Champions League. We can do it. The European game suits our style. Come on The Gunners
Posted 12:19 23rd November 2008
Calum Roberts (Arsenal fan) says...
well yes he is right because hes come out and publicly said theres been arguing and trouble behind the scenes i mean surely you have got to keep that private.he is not a true leader and is right to have the captaincy taken off him give it to toure or fabregas
Posted 10:58 23rd November 2008
Alex Onyeocha (Arsenal fan) says...
I am still in awe, i've still got my mouth wide-open, i'm still in shock, still wondering what happened on saturday. It ruined my entire weekend and probably week ahead is in a mess already. I have always been a fan of Gallas, i think his outbursts were out of frustration, and i feel some pity for him but there again, a worthy captain cannot crack under the pressure and from that point of view we need someone who can control the pressure, we need a player who is influential in the team, i would prefer the captain to go to a player - not because of his age but influence on team mates. Ideally, an attacker or forward should get the armband, that will create some responsibility for the front men. As for Gallas, i dont see him playing under any other captain in the team so please sell him in january, but dont replace him with djurou - that would be a case of shooting yourself in the foot!
Posted 10:41 23rd November 2008