mr_herres
25-10-2008, 12:36
Gallas Photo Is A Drag For Wenger
A photograph of club captain William Gallas leaving a London nightclub with a cigarette in his mouth has been described by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as 'unacceptable.'
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed that he will speak to his captain, 31-year-old French international defender William Gallas, regarding a picture of him leaving a nightvlub in the early hours of the morning with an unlit cigarette in his mouth.
However, Wenger has also gone out of his way to stress that Gallas is still the right man to lead the Gunners on the pitch.
He said of the photograph, "I will check that with him. He has a responsibility as captain of Arsenal and that cannot be accepted.
"I didn't see the picture. I have been informed, but I don't like that," added Wenger.
"It is a public job with a public responsibility and therefore it is exactly the same for everybody."
But he continued: "William has his critics but what you can never fault him [for] is the motivation."
Arsenal visit West Ham for Sunday's London derby, and despite the photograph, Wenger feels Gallas has responded well to the criticism he received after last season's fall from grace when he lost the plot at the end of the Gunners' 2-2 draw at Birmingham and staged a one-man sit-down protest on the St Andrews pitch.
Wenger considered taking the armband off him at the time, but decided to stick with Gallas as captain, and feels he has grown in stature after the disappointment of last season.
"He has learned a lot. He has taken a lot of criticism, of course, but I think he took it in a positive way," said Wenger.
"He himself has come out and said, 'I made a mistake last year and I will change and re-address my attitude'."
Wenger believes his presence is important for guiding a young side.
"He wants to do well, he wants his team to win and he has made a mistake - who didn't?" said Wenger.
"Even great captains make mistakes. William has worked very hard to come back from his injury and looks very sharp now."
Gallas should be fit toface West Ham after recovering fromthe thigh injury referred tobe his manager.
A photograph of club captain William Gallas leaving a London nightclub with a cigarette in his mouth has been described by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as 'unacceptable.'
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed that he will speak to his captain, 31-year-old French international defender William Gallas, regarding a picture of him leaving a nightvlub in the early hours of the morning with an unlit cigarette in his mouth.
However, Wenger has also gone out of his way to stress that Gallas is still the right man to lead the Gunners on the pitch.
He said of the photograph, "I will check that with him. He has a responsibility as captain of Arsenal and that cannot be accepted.
"I didn't see the picture. I have been informed, but I don't like that," added Wenger.
"It is a public job with a public responsibility and therefore it is exactly the same for everybody."
But he continued: "William has his critics but what you can never fault him [for] is the motivation."
Arsenal visit West Ham for Sunday's London derby, and despite the photograph, Wenger feels Gallas has responded well to the criticism he received after last season's fall from grace when he lost the plot at the end of the Gunners' 2-2 draw at Birmingham and staged a one-man sit-down protest on the St Andrews pitch.
Wenger considered taking the armband off him at the time, but decided to stick with Gallas as captain, and feels he has grown in stature after the disappointment of last season.
"He has learned a lot. He has taken a lot of criticism, of course, but I think he took it in a positive way," said Wenger.
"He himself has come out and said, 'I made a mistake last year and I will change and re-address my attitude'."
Wenger believes his presence is important for guiding a young side.
"He wants to do well, he wants his team to win and he has made a mistake - who didn't?" said Wenger.
"Even great captains make mistakes. William has worked very hard to come back from his injury and looks very sharp now."
Gallas should be fit toface West Ham after recovering fromthe thigh injury referred tobe his manager.