Fabregas named Arsenal captain
Cesc Fabregas takes over from William Gallas as Arsenal skipper
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Monday, 24, Nov 2008 10:52
Cesc Fabregas, 21, has been named as the new permanent captain of Arsenal, succeeding William Gallas who was stripped of the armband last week.
The Spanish international will lead the team out for the first time as the Gunners line up against Ukrainian opponents Dynamo Kiev in a Champions League group game at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow night.
Confirming the appointment at his press conference today, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger also said that after discussions with Gallas over his recent comments to the press the French defender would be reinstated to the starting lineup.
"William will play against Kiev, but the captain of the team will be Fabregas," Wenger said.
"I do not think I have to especially explain why I make the decisions, but it is a permanent thing."
Gallas was left out of the squad for Saturday's trip to Eastlands to face Manchester City - a match that the Londoners lost 3-0 - after he revealed there was disharmony in the dressing room at half-time of Arsenal's 4-4 draw with bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur last month.
The 31-year-old also slammed his team-mates' battling instincts, saying they are "not brave enough" to challenge for the league title.
And while Wenger admitted the last week had been an "interesting" time at the club, he downplayed the row.
"When you do not win nobody jumps off the roof, but the frustration does kick in," he said.
"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.
"Even if we are frustrated at the moment, 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 [for the Champions League second round] tomorrow."