His remarks have put Wenger under pressure to sack him as captain
According to Gallas, Walcott (seen here) and van Persie (next picture) had a bust-up in the dressing room following Arsenal's 4-4 draw with Tottenham and had to be separated. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
LONDON: Arsene Wenger is facing mounting pressure to strip William Gallas of the Arsenal captaincy, after the France defender launched a withering attack on his younger teammates on Thursday.
Thousands of fans voted in a poll on SkySports - with more than 80 per cent demanding that Gallas be demoted.
'Big contracts - which Arsenal's teenage players have now and Manchester United's starlets waited years for - may be a factor. You can rest on your laurels here, that's for sure.'
One supporter wrote: 'Wenger needs to kick Gallas out.'
It was the last thing the manager needed after a horrific week. First, his side lost tamely to Aston Villa to ruin their Premier League hopes. Then Theo Walcott suffered shoulder injury which will see him out for three months.
Today, the Gunners travel to Manchester City with Cesc Fabregas suspended and a squad in disarray.
In an outburst that goes some way towards explaining the club's problems this season, Gallas openly accused his younger teammates of lacking bravery, of being more interested in collecting big salaries than winning trophies, and of switching off against lesser teams.
'We are not brave enough in battle,' he said. 'Big contracts - which Arsenal's teenage players have now and Manchester United's starlets waited years for - may be a factor. You can rest on your laurels here, that's for sure.'
He spilt the beans on a dressing-room bust-up in the recent 4-4 draw with Tottenham, with The Sun reporting he had to separate Walcott and Robin van Persie at half-time.
Gallas also complained at length about an unnamed player, who insults his Arsenal team-mates. Although no names were mentioned, the 31-year-old gave several clues by revealing that the player in question is six years younger than him.
A few newspapers have pinpointed van Persie, 25, as the troublemaker.
It does not end there.
In Gallas' autobiography released yesterday, he also complained about a younger player within the France squad that crumbled at Euro 2008. Newspaper L'Equipe reported that he was referring to Samir Nasri, the 21-year-old midfielder who now plays at Arsenal.
Gallas' fitness as captain has been in question since his sit-down protest after Arsenal conceded a late equaliser at Birmingham in February. He was also fined two weeks' wages after he was photographed leaving a nightclub with a cigarette in his mouth last month.
But who else can Wenger turn to?
Fabregas is only 21 and still learning the game. Kolo Toure has strong credentials but has found himself second choice behind Mikael Silvestre of late.
There is a startling lack of alternatives for the role within the Arsenal ranks, and the nagging suspicion is that what the Gunners lack is on-pitch leadership.
Wenger only addressed the injury situation when he talked to Arsenal TV yesterday. 'We have to cope,' he said. 'Our strengths are being tested, but we have to take it as an opportunity to show that we are strong, that's how we have to deal with it.'
But the big question now is how the rest of the squad deal with Gallas, having probably lost all respect for him.
THE TIMES, LONDON, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
