Invisiblewall.net: Gilberto Silva News

James Dall wrote an article comparing Captain Fantastic (Mr. Gilberto Silva) against Captain Smellyface (Mr. William Gallas). Check it out.

Captain sensible?

William Gallas’ comments about unrest in the Arsenal camp have called into question his credentials to be Gunners captain. James Dall looks at the Frenchman’s latest outburst and assesses how damaging it could prove in the long run.

It is general consensus that William Gallas’ latest comments are a public stride too far for an experienced player that has the honour of being Arsenal captain.

Gallas was presented with the armband at the beginning of last season, usurping the now-departed Gilberto Silva, a Brazilian midfielder who served six years in the red and white.

Gilberto enjoyed an exemplary 2006/07 season as skipper, scoring 11 goals and – in a campaign when eight Premier League games were lost – not sticking his verbal oar in to stir up choppy waters in north London.

France international Gallas was a controversial appointment by his compatriot Arsene Wenger, there is no question. But fears over his attitude, Chelsea roots, displays on the pitch and leadership skills were largely pacified until 23rd February.

That Saturday at St Andrews was a dreadful day to be a Gunner. A horrendous injury to the increasingly sharp Eduardo, two points dropped so late on and then Gallas, the young team’s commander, losing his French head.

Gallas’ petulant exhibition was eye-opening, and yet he received the backing of Wenger. The image of a crest-fallen Tony Adams, tears in his eyes, crumpled on the turf does not sit well in the belly for the reason that it would not have occurred.
Scrutinised

The knives have been out for Gallas since; every sound-bite analysed, body language scrutinised, misdemeanours publicised. Gallas’ ‘player news archive’ on the skysports.com website screams of too many controversies for a man with power and responsibility.

A question on most lips is whether he should remain as captain – more than 80 per cent of those who voted in a skysports.com poll think not. But Wenger is a stubborn man and, while the pressure is mounting for him to relieve Gallas of his duties, it is expected he will lead the charges out at Manchester City on Saturday.

The counter-argument suggests Gallas’ position of power allows him the right to make such revelations of ‘complaining’, ‘insults’ and ‘problems’. But how far can a captain go before his honesty opens up an unhealable wound?

Talk of unrest, in what has already been a testing campaign for the Gunners, only serves to stir up further whispers of discontent. It seems odd to bring about a dressing room fall-out from last month’s game against Tottenham Hotspur. It serves only to renew past squabbles.

Perhaps Gallas’ quotes were taken out of context, perhaps he intended a rallying cry, although said theories look a bit like clutching at straws. At 31-years-old, he is not naive to the media’s ways. He knows, for example, a cringe-worthy pre-match teamtalk at Chelsea will be caught by television cameras.

Gallas went as far as to intimate he is uncertain where his footballing future lies next season. For this reason, Wenger may already be planning his replacement. Cesc Fabregas is a favourite in a many a fan’s eyes. He is a man who has demonstrated remarkable spoken maturity.

It is a conundrum Arsenal could certainly do without. But it is a debate that will rumble on until the Gunners lift silverware, Gallas steps down or leaves the club, or Wenger is bullish as chief and draws the curtain on what has so far been a failure of an experiment.

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