Wenger backs Gallas as Gunners skipper despite loss of form
William Gallas has endured a difficult few weeks as Arsenal captain
Also In The News
|
Legendary Australian star Shane Warne has decided to retire from first-class cricket and will not represent Hampshire this summer. |  |
Friday, 28, Mar 2008 12:04
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has given his full support to William Gallas to continue as team captain, despite his recent slump in form.
The former Chelsea defender looked out of sorts in the 2-1 defeat to his former side at Stamford Bridge last weekend, which severely dented the Gunners' title ambitions.
Arsenal are now six points adrift of league leaders Manchester United with seven games left, but Wenger has refused to make any major changes to the side - not least his choice of captain.
"I believe he did not have the best of performances on Sunday, and he would be the first to agree with that, but I don't question his leadership nor his position in the team," said Wenger.
"You have the same William Gallas - and the same people said it was a good choice to make him captain when we were five points ahead, and you have not to go too much overboard.
"William has my full support and my full backing and I am completely behind him, and behind the team as well.
"We are going through a bad patch, I agree with you, but we want to come back and win the games again that we can win."
As well as the Premier League campaign, the Gunners also face a two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool - with the first leg at the Emirates Stadium next Wednesday.