Eurosport - Fri, 21 Nov 07:57:00 2008
Arsenal captain William Gallas has revealed serious disunity within the squad and said that the team are not brave enough to win the Premier League title.
In a frank interview Gallas took the rare step of going public with his frustration at a series of bust-ups within the Emirates Stadium dressing-room.
The Frenchman said that a team-mate had insulted him during a match and he did not want to take the blame for the constant friction at Arsenal.
"When, as captain, some players come up to you and talk to you about a player ... complaining about him ... and then during the match you speak to this player and the player in question insults us," Gallas told AP.
"There comes a time where we can no longer comprehend how this can happen.
"I am trying to defend myself a bit without giving names. Otherwise I'm taking it all (the blame). It's very frustrating," he said.
"I'm 31, the player is six years younger than me." The 25-year-olds in the Arsenal squad are Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Eboue, Bacary Sagna and Eduardo da Silva, who has been out injured since February.
Another incident occurred during the recent 4-4 draw at home to North London rivals Tottenham, in which Arsenal surrendered a two-goal lead in the dying minutes.
Gallas said that divisions in the squad could damage their quest for silverware.
"There was a problem at halftime. The only thing that I could say at halftime was 'Guys, we resolve these problems after the match, not at half-time.'
"We have to understand that to be champions, you have to play big matches every weekend and fight. We are coming up against teams who are not scared to play football against us, who are not scared to take us on at our place, and this is becoming dangerous for Arsenal.
"We are not brave enough in battle. I think we need to be soldiers. We have to be warriors. There are teams who can do it well against us, and we have to be able to face up to these attacks."
He said that Arsenal lost 2-0 at home to Aston Villa last Saturday, a week after beating Manchester United, because they did not play as a team.
"Maybe, against Manchester, it was the whole team that fought for victory," Gallas said.
"But when you stop fighting together, there comes a time when the midfield will sink, the defenders, unfortunately, can also sink. That's what happened against Villa."
Gallas's captaincy has come under fire since his furious 'sit-in' on the pitch at St. Andrew's after last season's 2-2 draw against Birmingham City.
His latest comments will embarrass manager Arsene Wenger and do little to endear him to his team-mates, who may be surprised that their skipper has chosen to share dressing-room secrets while attempting - by his own admission - to deflect blame away from himself.
Comment 97 - 116 of 176
walcott out, gallas captain lol, AFC = jellyfish
I MISS THE OLD ARSENAL, IT USE TO BE REALLY FUN, BUT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL END IN TEARS AGAIN, WHAT KIND OF LEADER WOULD TELL IS ARMY THAT THEY CANNOT DO IT? GALLAS IS NOT FIT TO LEAD ARSENAL. I AM VERY CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE RIGHT LEADER WE CAN DO IT, YES WE CAN, HOWEVER WHAT I KNOW IS THAT THIS HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT GALLAS, ITS ABOUT US THE FUNS AND WITH OR WITH OUT GALLAS, I WILL STAND FOR ARSENAL ALL THE WAY. YES WE CAN.
pls all i`ve 2 say is 2 giv w.gallas d last chance bcs he is an experience,sensible,reliable old player. 4rm lookman b
WHY CRYING ARSENAL FANS,YOUR NAME IS SIMPLY GONNA,NOT GUNNER,U HAVE GONE FOR REAL IF PREMATURE GALLAS REMAIN YOUR CAPTIN.THE BOY NOT A MAN IS NEVER FIT TO PLAY A DEFENCIVE ROLE,HE WILL DO BEST AS CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY AND ARSENAL JUDGE FOR PEACE AND INFIGHTING RESOLUTION SINCE HE HAS NO RESPECT FOR CLUB MANAGER WENGER.MICHAEL ONYEMETU.
The main problem at Arsenal is their primadonnas thinking they have the god given right to win matches. Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea fight hard and battle when they have to and don't take any team lightly. Now the Likes of Villa have come along with real desire, genuine talent and a very happy and close knit squad working hard for each other to throw a spanner in the works they start to fall apart. This happened at Madrid a few seasons ago, to many ego's, and neither Wenger or Gallas can keep them in check. Martin O'Niell has the right idea with a main bulk of quality young English players, who all respect and like each other and push each other all the way, win or lose. A few talented foriegn players in the squad is good, gives a bit of diversity and experience. Get rid of the ego's, play some of their youngsters who look fantastic, and Arsenal will get back on track. I genuinely admire Arsenal, but its gone too far down there, players have too much say and power, they should respect your great club and start putting the shifts in. A Villa fan.
it makes me wonder how on earth this could heve happened in the first place? for a player who just arrive in the club and get the captain band.as if this club did not have guys capable of wearing this band..well, its obvious an insult to the fans! this guy does not deserve to be captin, hand it to kolo toure he'll be a good captain for sure.Wenger, whats wrong with you,have you lost the plot or what? sooner you sak this guylas better will be for this club or you too go!
WHY CRYING ARSENAL FANS,YOUR NAME IS SIMPLY GONNA,NOT GUNNER,U HAVE GONE FOR REAL IF PREMATURE GALLAS REMAIN YOUR CAPTIN.THE BOY NOT A MAN IS NEVER FIT TO PLAY A DEFENCIVE ROLE,HE WILL DO BEST AS CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY AND ARSENAL JUDGE FOR PEACE AND INFIGHTING RESOLUTION SINCE HE HAS NO RESPECT FOR CLUB MANAGER WENGER.MICHAEL ONYEMETU.
i used to think gallas was brilliant, but it's clear now that he's a big baby and the cause of most of the disharmony at arsenal. how many times is he going to throw tantrums or go to the press and tell them all about what's going on behind the scenes at arsenal?? surely he must realise that putting them under even more scrutiny from the media isn't helping.
captain's are meant to lead by example....
but if you look at the example that gallas sets then it's no wonder the squad is not united.
Ha ha. that is what to expect from someone when he does not deserve to be a leader. A captain that lacks respect (no surprise) and who is crying because he cannot handle things like a captain. Now he is talking to media about his team-mates just so that the others realise he is a ''victim''. ha ha ha! what a captaincy attitude. It is the fault of Wenger, coz Gallas neither is a good player nor has what it takes to be a captain and one of the many proves are in this article... The funny thing is he talks about winning silverware. ha ha ha ha. Probably he meant winning 'silver where'?
U GALLAS JUST HAVE TO PACK UR BELONGS FROM ARSENAL DRESSING ROOM AND GO AND FIND TEAM , U ARE DESTROYING TEAM EVEN FANS DID NOT LIKE U SO IS BETTER U GO .ARSEN U HAVE TO THINK BCUZ UR YRS OF HARD WORK IS BEING PUT INTO QUESTION. LONG LIFE ARSENAL NOT GALLAS IN ARSENAL
SIR DEMS FROM GAMBIA
Maybe for team harmony Arsenal should take a leaf out of Aston Villas book,they had seven Englishmen in the team against Arsenal
My Dear Fellow Gunners, I woundn't want us to lose our focus on what is more important which is to start winning games and would encourage all to support W. Gallas at this difficult time. Also i will like to remind you all that our beloveth Arsenal is a multi-cultural, multi-talented and diverse team. Neither should we forget that Williams is very different in culture to those you try to compare him with. Support your captain, show a unified front and we shall all see the reward. Obviously, there was a bit of unfairness on him being chosen over Gilberto as captain but by taking the armband off him and giving it to any other member of the team will compound the problem we have at the moment. He has come out to say what he knows, how he knows best and believe me more is yet to come. i love Gallas for his character and envy Mr Wenger for his courage...the same courage that made me become a GUNNER some 20 years ago and proud to say all my kids are following the same foot. Gallas, to me you've done WELL but you could have done it in a more btter way than using the press to expose the diffrences in the dressing room - ANOTHER lesson for you mate! Never wash your dirty linen in public!!!
Gallas is an arse! Sack him and send him back to West London with Ashley!
frankly nothing Gallas does surprises me anymore but surely this has to be the final straw...what a @#$%....how disloyal and typically spiteful of him....im life long Gooner and what's happening this season is nothing short of embarassing...we don't deserve to win any trophies and frankly we don't deserve to finish in the top four what we need is a good slap and for Mr. Wenger to relinquish his grip a little...surely he can see this just ain't working....I'll look to the future for trophies and for now I'll just quietly seethe at the mess that is Arsenal. PRINCESS GOONER
why would you not insult a player like Gallas, the guy is a typical idoit he always act infront of they camera, they manager is obviously loosing the plot as well since he made this guy the captain out of no merits
Why Gallas was made team captain will always bother me. As a Chelsea supporter I would have thought Gilberto would be captain, the ideal man, what a blow he dealt with and now he's gone
I have long said that Gallas does not deserve to be captain,Wenger should stop his French conation.Silvester has no business in arsenal Chelsea Fan
I feel sorry for them, since it would be nice to see a different name on the silverware this year.
THIS IS GETTING EMBARRASSING!!!!! Gallas should have NEVER been made captain of the team that I love in the first place. Then there was the "mature" happening at St Andrews, should've been binned as captain then. Now he's telling tales on the team, yeah, because that's gonna help solve any problems in the dressing room. At this rate the likes of van persie, fabregas etc because there's a spoilt brat trying to lead the team. Please, please, please Mr Wenger, give the armband to Toure!
Well get 11 football players from around the world with a definite bias to French players and what do you get?
No team spirit no loyalty to the club, you get Arsenal, who cannot compete with the best of the Premier as they are there for the money only, not the glory and traditions of the club, money only, not commitment, without any loyalty.
No wonder Arsenal are so erratic and without trophy's over the last 4 years.
Time to reintroduce English players who maybe lacking the football skills of foreigners can match them with heart and courage to win glory.
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