After most people thought Gilberto Silva would be named club captain after Thierry Henry’s departure, Arsene Wenger has appointed William Gallas as the main man.
The strange thing is that I am both surprised and not surprised.
William Gallas was the man with the armband over the two tournament wins at the Emirates and Amsterdam so he was obviously was going to be at least the vice-captain, but with Gilberto resting from the Copa America you would have thought he would have been picked.
Arsene Wenger spoke on the official website:
“[The captain] will be William Gallas,†he said. “There will also be two vice-captains, Kolo Toure and Gilberto.
“I feel centre back is always the best position to lead on the pitch and it is Gallas who has more experience at the back. But Gilberto has always been a great captain and Kolo Toure has a stature too.
“Aswell I made a decision that I want all those experienced players, along with Jens Lehmann, to be involved off the pitch. Players like Jens and Gilberto can play the role of a club captain. They can have a very strong impact mentally on the team. I want them to take on that responsibility.â€
The recent words from Gallas appear to be great, positive and captain material but we all remember the negative comments he made only a few months ago on his official website.
One of the things I find strange is Arsene’s comments about the best position to lead is from the back. If that’s the case then why was Henry named captain, and why was Gilberto captain in his absence?
And another problem I have is that surely the captaincy of Arsenal Football Club should be something that is earned – right?
I’m sure William Gallas is a fighter, a warrior and someone who has a strong desire to win but does he deserve it?
A lot of other players in the squad would deserve the honour more than Gallas.
But maybe Willie’s abrasive and direct ‘win at all costs’ attitude is what we need?
Only time will tell.
But maybe Willie’s abrasive and direct ‘win at all costs’ attitude is what we need?….
SPOT ON THERE!
I’m happy with the decision. You need a winner’s attitude and he’s got it in him. I’m excited. Lets not all look at the negative side of Gallas. Making him captain, I believe will stablilise him and bring the best out of him.
Sad that loyalty does not pay off…
Gallas is not a gooner…he may be a good defender although most of the late goals we concede in the pre-seoson tournaments were because of him..Is he a good reader of the game like Tony?
I agree that Gilberto may lack aggresiveness but so does Wenger..and How about Kolo..He has the heart of a lion..Just watch him whenever the team is behind..he will drive forward like a real bull..and he is at Arsenal for a long time..playing along the Viera..Henry and old back for…
RUBBISH … THIS IS THE SAME GALLAS THAT STATED WE LACKED AMBITION AND HE WOULD CONFRONT THE AFC BOARD ABOUT OUR DIRECTION!!!!!!!!!!!! I WILL ALWAYS BE A GOONER AND AN AVID FAN OF MR. WENGER, BUT THIS IS TWICE IN A ROW HIS CAPTAINCY CHOICE IS A LOAD OF RUBBISH. HENRY WAS A JOKE ….. SHOULD BE GILBERTO AS CAPTAIN, TOURE/FABREGAS AS VICE CAPTAINS!!!!! WE DON’T NEED PLAYERS LIKE GALLAS TO TEAR THE CLUB DOWN ON HIS OWN WEBSITE, THEN SAY HE WOULD MAKE A GREAT CAPTAIN! THE ONLY THING HE WOULD BE GOOD AT ………… IS LEAVING!!!!
Gallas is probably the best option, although I thought Gilberto did an excellent job last season. What`s with this 2 vice captains lark, is Arsene trying to appease Kolo and Gilberto just as he did when he gave Henry the captaincy? Can anyone tell me where Lehmann fits into all this? Apparently he is going to be a captain off the field or something similar.
“I feel centre back is always the best position to lead on the pitch and it is Gallas who has more experience at the back.”
What’s that Arsene?
Tony Adams was the last captain who was a defender, and that was from the old era!
Wenger made Vieira captain to make him stay, and then Henry for the exact same reason.
Now the moaning Gallas threatened to leave so Wenger made him captain!
Pathetic!!
Kolo and Gilberto (along with Cesc and Van Persie) deserve it more that him!
Guys cmon willie is best suited as an arsenal captain arent you guys tired of the old arsenal reactions in the champions league eg we play say sparta prague and what would happen the boys would enter the field and play as if they are cold they would lack that directness and they could never play in the champions league and for them to win is if the other team is awful
gallas brings in determination and thirst to win the boys seem to be happy wen he is captain and its not like kolo was working hard to earn the armband that guy is lion with or without the band and gilberto he is a performer with or without it
sagna kolo gallas and clichy and just infront of them to cement the defence gilberto God willing injuries aside i see another unbeaten run watch this space!!
preseason gilberto was not there we could have all the mid fielders have a chance and the difence was impecable
gooner for life
cmon
uh huh,surprise from le professor again,i never expected it but somehow it rang in my mind when wenger began saying the ‘best position of captain being center back’. how in the world do u give gallas who has been critical of other players and the board as well. this has split me but there is nothing much we can do other than accept it,maybe it will work.
Truthfully, maybe Gallas has spoken about the team in public, but we have no idea about his popularity in the dressing room.
Anyway, Kolo and Gil are big boys. I’m sure it wont affect them
i hate arsenal they cant fukin score