William Gallas will
line up with his Arsenal team-mates when they face Dynamo Kiev in
the Champions League at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, but not as
captain.
Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the 31-year-old has been
permanently replaced as the Gunners skipper by 21-year-old
Cesc Fabregas.
The controversial defender was axed from the trip to Manchester
City on Saturday, which
Arsene Wenger's men lost 3-0 as
their Premier League title hopes were dealt another blow, after
publicly making critical remarks about the team and questioning
their fighting spirit.
However, Wenger - who named goalkeeper Manuel Almunia his
captain at Eastlands - maintained former Chelsea defender Gallas,
31, still had a future at the club.
Although the Arsenal manager refused to discuss the reasons
behind the player's absence, Wenger confirmed Gallas would be
reinstated, but not in a leadership role on Tuesday.
''William will play against Kiev, but the captain of the team
will be Fabregas,'' said the Arsenal manager. ''I do not think I
have to especially explain why I make the decisions, but it is a
permanent thing.''
Wenger felt it had been an ''interesting'' few days for Arsenal,
whose season is threatening to unravel.
He said: ''When you do not win, nobody jumps off the roof, but
the frustration does kick in. It is a good opportunity now for us
to show we have strength and ability - you know how it works, you
go from fantastic to a catastrophe, but real life is somewhere in
between.''
Wenger insisted: ''So even if we are at the moment frustrated,
it is not all doom and gloom. We have a strong belief in our
ability and we have a good opportunity to show we care about the
club and that we can qualify tomorrow.''
Wenger, though, maintained the future of the club was in safe
hands, led by 21-year-old Spain international Fabregas.
The Arsenal manager said: ''I believe the captain is the voice
of the club towards the outside, and is one of the leaders of the
team.
''However, I do not believe in just one man in the dressing room
who sorts out all of the problems. A successful team is a shared
leadership inside the dressing room. He (Fabregas) will be one of
the leaders, but not the only one.''
Fabregas told Arsenal's official website: "It is a great honour
for me to captain one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"It is a proud moment. I know it's a big responsibility but
together with my team-mates, I know we have the spirit and
commitment to get back to winning ways and fulfil our
potential.''
Wenger continues to keep the faith this group can produce the
results needed to compete for honours.
He said: ''It is a learning trade, to be a top player in a top
club, you need to be mentally very strong and to deal with these
types of concentration. We have quite a good way to protect the
players here and they know how much we believe in them and how much
confidence we have in them.
''My trust in my players has not be affected. I have to stand up
for my players in the criticism we get, but we are a strong team
and that will come out.
''I am focused to do things well, the right way. I am strong
enough to let people have opinions, and do what I feel is
right.''
Gallas arrived from Chelsea as part of the deal which took
full-back Ashley Cole to Stamford Bridge in August 2006, and Wenger
insists he has no regrets about making the outspoken Frenchman
Arsenal captain following the departure of Thierry Henry.
''William is a player and a man whom I rate, I have a big
respect for him,'' he said.
hope fab will b more consistent & reali motivate the
squad...
