Why Wenger made Gallas Arsenal captain
Last week when William Gallas was announced as Arsenal captain people were shocked, to the say the least.
Gilberto was the better representative, Toure more ‘Arsenal’. So why did Arsene Wenger pick Gallas as Arsenal captain?
The simple answer can’t be found in Wenger’s initial announcement about team captains, where he said that he expected Gallas, Toure and Gilberto to be captains on the pitch and Lehmann, Gallas and Gilberto captains off the pitch. Arsenal needed leaders on and off the pitch, and that made sense.
The reasoning usually given here is that because Wenger prefers to have a center-back as captain and because Gallas is more experienced than Toure, he picked Billy.
But that’s not the defining reason, is it?
The two real reasons why Gallas is captain have to do with his ego and his performances (or lack of them).
One, Gallas’ ego could stand Henry as captain, but not Gilberto or Toure, and with Henry gone do you really think that Gallas would defer to Toure or Gilberto? If you do, you seem to have conveniently forgotten the problems that Gallas was having at Chelsea where first he wanted to be first-choice central defender and then he wanted equal footing with the club’s star players.
Second, Wenger is hoping that making Gallas the captain will motivate him to turn Arsenal’s defence into world-beaters. Gallas was ordinary by his standards last season and has a big, big reputation to live up to.
Seeing as Gallas likes to play captain and Toure and Gilberto are the sort of characters who lead by example and get on with things without making a fuss, the dressing room should ‘NOT’ have any big fractions as a result of this.
And having given Gallas everything he wants (the center stage, literally), there’s no reason why he shouldn’t perform to his standards.
The only thing wrong with this move is that Gallas is not ‘Arsenal’ – or at least not the ideal of Arsenal that the fans adhere to.
Wenger thinks differently – and whether he’s wrong or right will show itself at the end of the season in the form of results and dressing room morale.
I wouldn’t bet on Gallas, but then again would you bet against Wenger?
Topics: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger
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A classy player who doesn’t perform according to potential and complains a lot. Sounds like Arsenal to me…
tongue-in-cheek
August 15th, 2007 @ 20:52It doesn’t really matter. Gilberto was never the club’s captain. He was only a cover. And I don’t really see in him a winner. He is a nice boy who will never want to upset anyone. Great! But, is it really what Arsenal need at the moment? I doubt it. I think after three seasons without a trophee, we need a winning captain who can install in this young squad a winning mentality. If that man is called Gallas, I would always do with it for the Arsenal I love.
August 15th, 2007 @ 22:05I think that the fact that Gilberto is also captain of Brazil is a factor. When the decision was made, he was away with his national team and I’m sure that was at the fore of AW’s mind. Time and again Wenger has shown to be right in his decisions so why question it. I always think fans who think they know more than a manager to be amusing. If you were such an “expert” you would be managing instead people post their opinions on a website carrying on their own self delusion that they know so much more about the game than they really do. There is always more to the story than we as fans know.
August 15th, 2007 @ 23:04Gilberto and Kolo are good models, but too “nice” for captaincy. Anybody as captain is 1000 times better than Henry. You don’t want another ‘nice henry’ as captain. He didnt fight for his boys.
August 16th, 2007 @ 00:16Gallas & Lehmann had problems with each other last year. Regular shoving matches on the pitch but then that’s Lehmann for you (and Gallas come to think of it!). Don’t know if they’ve sorted out their differences yet.
I’ve talked about this elsewhere, & i reiterate that i think Gilberto should still be captain. However, now that the deed is done i hope the team gets on with it & there’s no bad feeling when Gilly gets back from his much deserved holidays.
One things for sure. I expect to see a lot less bitching from our new captain & a lot more ‘leading-by-example’. If he fucks up, its his own fault now.
August 16th, 2007 @ 07:35i think that deep down we all know that gilberto isnt a true captain. He’s not a Vieira or an Adams. I think gallas is the closest we ave to that! Even Henry wasn’t to some extent. you need a top quality player with the captain mentality. I think Henry was top quality without the captain mindset. Vieira and Adams were both. Gallas has the mindset but not the top quality ability.
August 16th, 2007 @ 17:44Gentlemen……….you are about to take on the greatest test of the season. Show the world who you are. Nobody can touch you and I am seeing this from America. You have the class to run right over Liverpool. Don’t think and just play…….take it easy and just ball
October 26th, 2007 @ 22:55Gallas is a great player and can control a game, ok choice for captain put Toure is my overall favorite, plys Gallas has had injury problems
October 27th, 2007 @ 07:28