William Gallas's Arsenal career looks over after he was stripped of the captaincy and dropped for today’s match at Manchester City over his shocking attacks on his team-mates.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger reacted swiftly and decisively after Gallas openly questioned the bravery of his fellow players, revealed damaging dressing-room secrets including breaking up a half-time bust-up, claimed one player insulted his colleagues in a match, and slammed the attitude of young team-mates.
Gallas did not join the squad that travelled to Manchester last night and will be replaced as
captain by either Gael Clichy or Manuel Almunia today. Stand-by skipper Kolo Toure is missing injured while the suspended Cesc Fabregas is the long-term favourite for the prestigious role.
Gallas, 31, joined Arsenal on transfer deadline day in 2006 as part of the deal that took Ashley Cole to Chelsea.
This shows just how disappointed Arsene Wenger is, that he feels let down
Nigel Winterburn
He has 11 goals in 86 games for Arsenal – but looks set to return to France in January.
Paris St Germain have been linked with him already.
Wenger stood by his skipper as Gallas suffered a major meltdown at Birmingham last February, but is furious that Gallas has so damagingly undermined colleagues, his manager and the reputation of Arsenal – just when Wenger has done so much to foster a family spirit.
The final straw could well have been more astonishing comments from Gallas which emerged yesterday about player tensions for France at Euro 2008.
Gallas did not name the fellow international with whom he argued, but he identifies him as ‘S’ and says he played in midfield.
Leading French sports newspaper L’Equipe indicated Gallas was referring to Samir Nasri, the midfielder who now plays alongside Gallas at Arsenal.
In his book Gallas said he had trouble with the youngsters in the France squad, saying: “They seem cheeky, very sure of themselves.
“They think they know everything but they know nothing. I too was 20 years old once.
“I would never have allowed myself to speak in such a way to a player older than me. We respected the veterans. We shut our mouths.”
Gallas had a heated conversation with the player, saying: “Are you speaking to me? Who do you take yourself for? You’re only 20…I am not your friend.’”
The player responded: “I’m not your friend either.”
Nasri joined Arsenal in the summer and turned 21 last June.
Former Gunners star Nigel Winterburn, who played under Wenger said: “I’m absolutely stunned. This shows just how disappointed Arsene Wenger is, that he feels let down.
“Arsene is very loyal to his players and he must be seriously hurt to have taken Gallas’s captaincy away from him.
“If Gallas is not travelling at the weekend then it looks like it could be the end of his career at Arsenal.
“Gallas hasn’t just named one player, he put suspicion on several.
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“With what Gallas has said, if Arsene strips him of the captaincy that means Arsene has lost trust in the player.”
