Arsenal Football Club News

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

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60,432

Wenger wants Gallas to stay

05 Dec 2008 - 16:37:08

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has attempted to draw a line under the William Gallas saga after insisting he wants the defender to remain at the Emirates Stadium.

Gallas, 31, is reported to be unsettled after Wenger's decision to strip him of the captaincy following the critical comments he made about his team-mates in a recent interview.

But Wenger has rejected further suggestions that he could look to offload the France defender when the transfer window reopens in January.

"My desire is clear - I want him to stay of course," said Wenger.

"The problem in the modern game is that you always have to fight against an environment which attempts to destabilise you just by creating news.

"I cannot fight against that, I can only give what we want inside the club.

"We want to keep William with us because he is an important player in the squad and what other people try to provoke or try to put out in the media we cannot master.

"It does not change my mind and in the end I will decide."