When Wenger announced that William Gallas would be the new captain for the Gunners this season, it raised more than a few eyebrows. If we’ve learned anything over the years, it’s whatever decision Wenger makes, he makes for a reason.
With Gilberto’s involvement with the Brazil national team, first during Copa America, then it’s league-format South American World Cup Qualifying, it meant that the anchorman would not be as involved with the squad as the manager would want him to be.
Personality-wise, William Gallas does look to be a more vocal figure in this young Arsenal side than the mild-mannered Brazilian.
Four months into the season, Gallas has looked very much like a REAL leader to Arsenal - the first since Tony Adams. The thing I love most is the Denilson incident during the Wigan match. Unlike Henry or Gilberto of last season, Gallas had no mood to be a peacemaker. He rushed straight from the defense and got in the face of the offender (Marcus Bent), to stand up for his teammate. That’s what you want from your leader. To show that he cares. To show that he won’t allow anyone to mess around with one of our own.
Most significantly, that extra responsibility of being a captain has kept Gallas himself within the boundaries. No more cry-baby act. He’s finally turned himself into the player we expected to see when he first arrived.
8 Responses to “Hail the Mohawk!”
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November 30th, 2007 at 10:42 am
I think its fair that Gallas needed time to settle in. He seems to understand how Wenger runs the squad and what his limits are (no different than Bendtner has after opening his yap). He certainly gives you solid play and no worries in the back, and won’t leave you holding your breath every time he touches the football (see Senderos v Sevilla). Gallas also cant be ignored in the box for set pieces and corners, as we saw first against Manure with his near miss in the first half and in the Wigan match. With Clichy’s form this year, it sure seems we got the better half of the exchange for the batty boy.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:52 am
http://arsenalreserves.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/gallas-treats-the-reserves/
There is also an interesting story of how Gallas treated the reserves and Under 18 players to a 50cents concert…..
November 30th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Wenger has publicly admitted that the defence is weak - The Arsenal manager has ruled out adding to his resources in the centre of the park but added that his side might be “a bit short” in defence.
He goes on to say - “We might have Johann Djourou back though. We have the option to recall him.”
Not happy with Djourou’s progress.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Obviously Gallas has had the easiest of rides to be the captain at Arsenal. No other player would have had it so easy. I guess there just was no other choice with the team filled with kids. In the last few games, Gallas has done a great job. But I would wait more games (like tomorrow’s), ideally one whole season, before making a full judgement.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
The Gallas selection (which I supported at the time) shows that Wenger can be both ruthless and pragmatic. What other manager would have had the cojones to drop the Brazilian captain who was coming off his best season. Then an alien ‘body-snatches’ Flamini and suddenly Arsenal’s MF dynamic has gone from ‘passive wall’ defending to ‘pressure’ defending and puts Fabregas into a more forward role.
Every game is important but no more so than tomorrow’s coming off of a lost. Fabregas is out and in a sign of possible desperation, Hleb and Clichy will be game time decisions. No matter what lineup Wenger cobbles together in the MF, we will need Rosicky in the middle for creativity. Flamini going box to box will be another key and finally we need a LM who can protect Traore if Clichy can’t play. Please don’t leave Carew wide open in the box on set plays like Blackburn did.
November 30th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I’ll admit it. I was sick of Gallas moaning at the start of the transfer window and his flirting with Milan and the rest. I wasn’t even sure of his quality or whether it was playing a defensive game like Chelsea do made him seem a better defender than he actually was.I think I changed my opinion as the season has worn on. I still believe he is just a mercenary(not in a deragatory sense) … he loves success and not the club itself. If he doesnt get it he will move on IMO. Still I think he will stay enough to teach some of the kids to win and hate losing.
November 30th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Good points LDE. I was surprised by Gallas’s selection and a bit worried. He has didn’t show much last year because of all the injuries- I just hope this year continues well and he handles Euro 2008 ok as well. He has worn the armband well this year and I love that will our typical starting XI you can find any one of them in the box at any time in an attempt to score- even more work for the opposition’s defense!
Djourou hasn’t impressed thus far though he is still quite young. The combination of Senderos getting hurt every few months and then taking 5 or so games to play right is a horrible combination for the 3rd choice CB. I always cut him slack because he is young but it is obvious to me we need better recovery speed than his in our backline. I’m hoping we are still in contention and Wenger pushes for a CB signing. The fact that he is talking about it is a good sign IMO.
In short, I see Gallas’s perspective to the young ones as “Yeah, play pretty but you better win!”
December 4th, 2007 at 8:56 am
what we need is the only sucsess is acceptable attitude gallas brings us. And i think players should be mercenary like. Fans stick with the club through thick and thin but players should only accept sucsess and like gallas said in the man u match interview ’should live and die together on the pitch.’
Thats wat makes a team for me