Gunning for Gallas

Arsenal fans demand action from Wenger over skipper's outburst

Last updated: 21st November 2008

William Gallas Arsenal 2008 West Brom

Gallas: Under fire from fans

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Arsenal fans are calling for William Gallas to be stripped of the captaincy following his outburst about unrest within the Gunners camp.

Thousands have been voting in a skysports.com poll with more than 80 per cent urging Arsene Wenger to change his skipper.

Gallas has openly accused his team-mates of lacking bravery and spilt the beans on a dressing-room bust-up in the recent 4-4 draw with Tottenham.

Gallas also claims that, as captain, he has received complaints about one player in particular and warned Wenger's side that they are danger of wrecking their own title hopes.

But Gunners supporters have rallied round the rest of the team and are demanding Gallas lose the captain's armband.

Pete Joyce got in touch with us to say he was always against Gallas' appointment.

He said: "Couldn't he (Wenger) see from Gallas' first season as captain, he wasn't up for the job so why leave it to him again for the next season.

"Arsene Wenger needs to buy in January and kick Gallas out."

Several Gunners supporters, including Rob Grover, go back to the French defender's sit-in at Birmingham as proof he is not captaincy material.

He says: "When we got Gallas and £5million for Ashley Cole I thought what a deal. Up until the enormous strop he threw at Birmingham he was performing well but the way he spat his dummy out against Birmingham... it's the behaviour of an idiot.

"Can you imagine Tony Adams doing something like that?"

Patrick Fitz adds: "Having given Gallas the benefit of the doubt over the past year since the Birmingham melt down, I feel now it is time to look to other Arsenal players to step up to the mark and take the armband.

Leader

"No one wanted Gallas to succeed more than me and prove to Chelsea that he could be a Premiership leader but sometimes you have to cut your losses and move on."

Many fans are questioning whether Gallas has the qualities necessary for a captain and are already looking for the next skipper

David Mssika said: "If you look at the squad we have plenty of players with leadership quality; Gallas is not one of them! Wenger should get rid of him and give the armband to Kolo Toure, the longest serving player in the team and let Fabregas be his deputy!"

But Peter Tshiamo questions whether there are other leaders in the current Arsenal squad.

He says: "Whilst I agree that what Gallas has done is not in the best interest of Arsenal, I doubt if we have anybody within the current crop able enough to shoulder the responsibility.

"Maybe Toure would be the best of a bad lot but he could also struggle due to the intense pressure the team is in at the moment.

"I think Gallas should be thoroughly reprimanded for the last time and we revisit the issue at the end of the season. Disruptions at this point could result in more harm than good!

What do you think of the Gallas situation? Should he remain as captain? Let us know using the form below.

Comments

W C (Arsenal fan) says...

First of all Geoffrey we did replace Hleb, his name is Samir Nasri and he actually makes AND scores goals unlike the money chasing Belarusian. Gallas was never a leader, he was John Terry's sidekick at Chelsea and the only reason Wenger made him captain was to keep him on board after losing what we essentially had in our hands last season - the Prem title. Cesc or Kolo are the best candidates of the lot but we honestly have missed a single dominating figure like Vieira was. If rumors of Dan Van Buyten are true I will openly welcome him since he has done his fair share of leading at Hamburg and organizing Bayern's defense. We really need to splash some cash though for a proper defensive midfielder - Denilson is just better going forward than siting back. Jeremy Toulalan please?

Posted 13:59 21st November 2008

Sean Farrell (Chelsea fan) says...

Do you remember when Chelsea accused Gallas of threatening to score an own goal if they wouldn't let him leave ? It seemed like a crazy accusation at the time...Not so now ?

Posted 13:56 21st November 2008

Matt Dickinson (Arsenal fan) says...

We need another Tony Adams at the back! World class defender, fantastic captain, and always geared the team up when the was not going our way. Gallas is behaving like a spoilt child and never seems to give 100% unlike Clichy, or fabregas, he should not be given the option to hand his arm band back, he should be stripped of it, i thing Aresne should give it to either Toure or Fabregas, lets face it, it can't get any worse.

Posted 13:40 21st November 2008

Lumumba Mthembu (Arsenal fan) says...

When Thierry Henry was still at the club, Gilberto Silva was the vice captain and Kolo Abib Toure was third in line for the armband. That was a hierarchy that reflected not only the experience and influence each of those players wielded in the dressing room but it also reflected the amount of time each player had served at the club. When Gallas was made captain as a Johnny-come-lately ahead of Gilberto and Toure it offended me as an Arsenal fan and it certainly disrupted the harmony that came with that established Arsenal hierarchy. Gilberto's rumblings were well documented and many Arsenal fans greeted Gallas' appointment with an open-minded surprise. I was not one of those fans. I was against his appointment from the beginning because I thought that it was disrespectful to other senior players in the squad. The time is now ripe for Wenger to make wholesale changes to this Arsenal squad starting with the captain because the fiasco that is Arsenal's season is now moving off the field and into the papers.

Posted 13:37 21st November 2008

Felix Dairo (Arsenal fan) says...

William Gallas should be stripped of his captaincy and sent to the reserves. He does not command any respect amongst the players and is the weakest link in the team. Cesc should be made captain because he performs wk in wk out and has learnt to control his temper. Please arsene listen to the voices of reason!

Posted 13:32 21st November 2008

Goeffrey Ojinnaka (Arsenal fan) says...

I think Gallas is not the only problem Arsenal now has. Wenger must reverse the idea of not buying quality players especially now that we need players to replace Heleb and Flamini.

Posted 13:21 21st November 2008

Daniel Davies (Arsenal fan) says...

Gallas = the worst Arsenal captain ever! Although we lack experienced leaders I think anyone can do a better job than him! I'm backing Toure who for starters is a proper Arsenal man unlike the Chelsea reject. I hope the fans boo him when his name is announced in the stadium on Saturday, especially if he retains the captaincy. I will be doing it when I see them play Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday. I will support the gunners no matter what but I do not support our captain!

Posted 13:02 21st November 2008

Peter Anderson (Arsenal fan) says...

Why is it that when your club isn't doing well you only recognise the negative factors?! People forget that Gallas has done a lot for us at both ends of the pitch. I think there are far better captains than Gallas, however I have to agree with the minority in that it will do more harm than good to resolve it mid-season...it's potential for disaster. Also, I think a lot of people tend to forget that we are the youngest team in the premiership, and that it's going to take a lot of courage and hard work to keep these youngsters under control. I don't think there is anybody at Arsenal that is more PASSIONATE about their game than he is, he just needs to think about things before he does them. This should be his last chance, providing the manager is sensible enough to let it blow over.

Posted 12:56 21st November 2008

Gary Twigger (Arsenal fan) says...

Gallas is a good defender - But that¿s all.... In my opinion, he is nowhere near world class + He does not have the mantel attributes to be a captain. We (Arsenal) are lacking natural leaders, some people say it should be fabs, but I believe he needs to be left alone to play the game, as well as he does. I think the captain should be Kolo Toure. i also think we should try Kolo Toure in the centre of midfield, to release Fabs into the attacking freedom he needs. Interested in everyone else thoughts here.

Posted 12:51 21st November 2008

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