Arsene Wenger insists it does not matter if defensive
duo Kolo Toure and William Gallas are not friends as long they can
play together on the pitch.
In an exclusive interview with setanta.com, Kolo Toure revealed
on Wednesday that he did not consider former captain Gallas a
friend as he did other team-mates.
But boss Wenger believes the pair’s personal relationship should
have no bearing on their ability to do a job for Arsenal.
"What is important is that when you are professionals, you play
together," said Wenger.
"To be professional is to do what it takes for your team to be
successful, not more than that - it does not mean that you go to
paradise together.
"You have big examples of players who did not get on very well,
but that does not mean they cannot play together.
"In football, you can take a Russian and an American, at the
highest period of tension, and they can play very well together
because sport demands the analysis of a situation in a fraction of
a second, and both can have that even if they do not speak.
"The most important thing is the big players respect the
game.
"They put the respect for the game at a higher level than any
other situation - if the game needs me to give you the ball now,
even if I do not like you, then I give you the ball."
