World NewsGallas Reveals Arsenal Rifts |
Arsenal skipper William Gallas has revealed rifts in the dressing room undermining the club's current campaign and has suggested his team-mates have been unsettled by one member of the squad.
Gallas has called Arsene Wenger's side "not brave enough in battle" and has urged them to fight to revive a season that has already included four Barclays Premier League defeats.The 31-year-old also claims that some of his team-mates have approached him to complain about one member of the squad. Gallas would not reveal the player's identity but revealed the team-mate to be six years younger than him.
"Then during the match you speak to this player and the player in question insults us," said Gallas in an interview from France on BBC Online. "There comes a time where we can no longer comprehend how this can happen."
Gallas also revealed a row at half-time during the 4-4 draw against rivals Tottenham when they conceded two goals at the death.
It is the latest outburst from Gallas, who has consistently had his leadership questioned.
The France centre-back had a bizarre tantrum at Birmingham last season when Arsenal's title bid suffered a blow, while this season he has been pictured with a cigarette during a night out.
It is the last thing boss Wenger would have wanted after a week where he lost Theo Walcott for at least three months following his injury suffered while training with England ahead of the win over Germany.
Wenger refused to blame the Football Association for the accident that led to Walcott undergoing surgery on his dislocated shoulder, and the Arsenal boss does not yet know whether the club will pursue compensation.
"You have to accept it as an accident which could have happened anywhere," Wenger said. "I do not blame the FA for that.
"In a moment like that you do not think about money, you think about how you can replace the player, you think whether the squad can deal with that. I haven't thought at all about compensation."
Walcott will be out for a minimum of three months but Wenger expects the winger to take longer to recover and regain match fitness.
Wenger refuses to pull his players out of international friendlies - but following a week of club-versus-country rows, he suggests that monitoring which injured players feature in the next week could be a sign of where loyalties lie.
"Many players have pulled out because this friendly is very badly positioned," he said. "It would be very interesting for FIFA and UEFA to make a study of any players who have not played last night in any national team, and who will play on Saturday or on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Champions League.
"That for me would be the interesting thing to see.
"You will always get players who will not turn up for friendlies and have friendlies that will not be real games. Why? Players know they have important games with their club in the Champions League the week after."
He added: "Theoretically, if you do not play in the national team, you cannot play in the game after in the championship."
Wenger also has Kolo Toure out of this weekend's clash against Manchester City after aggravating a calf injury, while Emmanuel Adebayor has only just returned from injury and will need to be assessed.
Walcott has now injured both of his shoulders and there are fears the problem, which he is reported to have been born with, is long-term.
Wenger, however, said: "There is no concern about that. Once the surgery is done and it is solid, there is no concern at all for the future of Theo Walcott."
Walcott's injury means Wenger going into the January transfer market is a "possibility".
The good news for the Gunners boss is Croatia forward Eduardo returning to training in a week.
Cesc Fabregas is suspended for the trip to Eastlands, but Robin van Persie is back from a ban.
Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association
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