Arsenal Football Club News

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60,432

Wenger opts to drop Gallas

22 Nov 2008 - 12:07:34

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France international William Gallas has reportedly been stripped of the Arsenal captaincy.

The 31-year-old central defender spoke earlier this week of rifts and rows inside the Gunners dressing room, and a problem with an unnamed team-mate.

The magazine France Football has reported that Arsene Wenger has decided to leave Gallas out of his squad for the game against Manchester City with Manuel Almunia or Gael Clichy to take the captain's armband.

Gallas was spotted at Arsenal's training ground on Saturday morning while the rest of his team-mates prepared for the game at Eastlands.

Gallas had said about events at last month's 4-4 draw with Tottenham Hotspur: "There was a problem at half-time. The only thing that I could say was, 'Guys, we resolve these problems after the match, not at half-time.

"There are things that can't be said and can't be tolerated. 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.

"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 all the blame. It's very frustrating. I'm 31, the player is six years younger than me.

"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.

"That is how they will forge their character and how they will get experience."