Fabregas named new Arsenal captain
442 Staff - Monday 24 November 2008, 13:41
LONDON - Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas
replaced William Gallas as Arsenal captain on Monday after the
defender was punished for making critical comments about his
team mates.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger dropped Gallas from the team
which lost 3-0 to Manchester City in the Premier League on
Saturday and the Frenchman has now been stripped of the
captaincy.
Wenger told a news conference on Monday that Gallas would
return for Tuesday's Champions League Group G match against
Dynamo Kiev.
Asked if he would be captain, Wenger replied: "No it will be
Fabregas."
He declined to elaborate on Gallas's demotion but confirmed
that Fabregas, 21, would be a permanent appointment.
"William is a player that I rate. He was working as a
captain in a very difficult media environment and was under
pressure from the press," Wenger said.
"I do not to have to explain to you why I make the
decisions. When you don't win nobody jumps off the roof and the
frustration kicks in when your team doesn't win.
"This is a good opportunity to show that we have strength
and ability. You know how the media works, you go from
catastrophe to fantastic.
"Even if we are the moment frustrated it's 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.
"We believe in our strengths and we believe we can qualify
tomorrow."
Gallas's comments four days ago, in which he accused his
team mates of "not being brave enough in battle", came during a
troubled season for the north London club who slipped out of the
top four after Saturday's defeat, their biggest league loss
since March 2007.
Theo Walcott, one of their best players this season, has
been ruled out for three months with a dislocated shoulder, and
Wenger has been coming under increasing pressure from Arsenal
supporters who believe the Frenchman is obsessed with style at
the expense of substance.
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