William Gallas reveals big problems in the Arsenal team
Sulky captain complains about complaining team mates
It seems that Arsenal’s disappointing start to the season isn’t only down to Professor Wenger’s mismanagement – captain William Gallas has revealed the team are squabbling like a bunch of school girls:
“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 it all [the blame]. It’s very frustrating.
“I’m 31, the player is six years younger than me.”
Gallas refused to name the troublesome player, but Arsenal’s 25-year old stars include Bacary Sagna, Emmanuel Eboue and Robin van Persie. Given his confrontational nature, we’d be willing to bet it was the Dutchman with the French exchange student haircut who caused the kerfuffle.
Captain Gallas also revealed that there was a commotion at half time during the 4-4 north London derby thriller:
“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 halftime.
“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.”
16 responses so far
Othello // November 20, 2008 at 3:15 pm
All this in-fighting at Arsenal… yet there is more coverage of problems at Spurs by the Spurs-hating media! I’m loving this from Gallas! Keep ‘em coming!!!
black james bond // November 20, 2008 at 4:01 pm
wenger should be sacked
Mwepu_Llunga // November 20, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Is this really a surprise!? In no way do i agree with black james bond’s comment but maybe a complete c*nt of a No 2 is required in order to dish out the b*llockings that Van Persie, Eboue etc. require. If this isn’t possible at least a No 2 that can politely inform him that our good freind Emanuel is barely tolerable at right back never mind further up the pitch. Has a Top 4 team ever had a worse player? Another interesting point on Wenger’s youth club policy is whether Fergie’s fledgings would have become the players they are now if the elder statesmen of the team hadn’t had of been there for guidance and advice. Beckham et al had players like Ince and Keane to look up to, who have Wenger’s Boys got…Mikael Silvestre!?
paul // November 20, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Shut up William Gallas and is is coming from an Arsenal fan.
redMist // November 20, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Arsenal are lovers not fighters. Up the arse
bergkamp days // November 21, 2008 at 2:16 am
i’m afraid that wenger really has lost it. he’s lost control of the dressing room and his effort to build the ultimate young team in the premiership seems to have become the end in itself rather than the means towards winning titles. henry has not been replaced. viera, we thought, was replaced by flamini, who in turn has not been replaced. i dare say adams and keown have never been replaced. we won’t finish in the top 4 this year.
henry days // November 21, 2008 at 2:18 am
Ditto, mate. It’s over. Sack the prof. Sack him. I hate the sight of him. I absolutely hate everything he represents.
gooner4thislife // November 21, 2008 at 2:24 am
this is not how it should be. arsene has mismanaged the club to a high degree and both he and the captain gallas should be removed from setup. i really really envy what harry redknapp has done at WHL. to think he saw all his childhood games at our ground. how i wish that dirty turncoat could replace wenger right this instant.
rob // November 21, 2008 at 2:31 am
If you asked me right now if we could swap positions with Spurs right now, regardless of our league position, I would. They’ve really shamed us in the last three weeks and this cannot be tolerated. Sack Wenger. I’ve not felt jealous about Spurs for a long time now and if it’s happening on Wenger’s watch then it’s bollox. Sack him.
danny the gun // November 21, 2008 at 2:34 am
THIS IS KARMA I TELL YOU!
The day we released our new home kits and I saw that we didn’t have white sleeves, I heard a voice telling me that we had sold our identity in exchange for commercialism. Two days later, I heard the same voice telling me that we would suffer for it, because we have traded who we were for money. And it was a grave sin. I’m convinced that this is karma. We are paying the price for losing who we are.
BRING BACK OUR WHITE SLEEVES. THEY ARE WHAT MAKE US ARSENAL!!!
Mwepu_Llunga // November 21, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I’ve been struggling to find an article I read months ago that quoted Wenger in terms of what he looks for in a player. Along with the obvious elemets such as pace, power, talent etc etc form what I remember there was absolutely no mention of experience or more crucially attitude. If he’s got the £30m/£50m burning a hole in his pocket what’s stopping him getting an experienced DM (Senna?), a decent keeper (Jaskelieenen/Boruc?) and a if I’m being greedy a striker that compliments Ade better then RVP(perhaps not required if Eduarodo gets/stays fit)??
Mwepu_Llunga // November 21, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Forgot to add. What’s the Gooner viewpoint on a move for ‘The Special One’ next summer? You know it makes sense!!
wright9 // November 22, 2008 at 2:57 am
yes, the special one will be good. but harry will be better. i wish i was a spurs fan now.
H // November 24, 2008 at 10:48 pm
You Arsenal “fans” are a disgrace. The famous Arsenal song
“There is a team called the Arsenal! The greatest of them all!
And we will always support you. Whether you rise or fall, or fall!
And we’ll drink, drink together. In praise of the AFC!
And we’ll drink, drink, drink together. In praise of the AFC.”
WHETHER WE RISE OR FALL! You are not going to influence anything by saying “I wish this, I wish that” so stand by your team and be proud of what they’re achieving.
They do not have billionaire owners ready to splash out millions and millions, they have a squad of young players who put the other names to shame. It is more respectful to the game and more ethical than the policies that any other team in the EPL is employing.
And Wenger knows what he is doing, hasn’t he been through this before? I can’t believe you all say you wish you were Spurs fans…
“And we will always support you. Whether you rise or fall, or fall!”
Othello // November 27, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Arsenal fans wishing they were in our position…. last time I looked we were a point above the relegation zone! Granted, there’s only eight points between my club and yours, but still!
Vote: Who should be Arsenal’s captain? | The Spoiler // January 12, 2012 at 5:36 pm
[...] Gallas’ ill-timed outburst is typical – indeed, there are more revelations about spats with team-mates in his autobiography, published in France today; Gallas has a pop at some of the younger players in the French national squad at Euro 2008, in particular a player who he identifies only as “S”. Hmm, see a pattern emerging here? [...]
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