Gallas faces fight for Arsenal captaincy after rant

William Gallas faces a fight to hold onto the Arsenal captaincy after the France defender came under-fire for his shock blast at his young team-mates.

Gallas lifted the lid on the simmering discontent in the Arsenal dressing room in a remarkably candid interview on Thursday.

The 31-year-old accused the club’s youngsters of lacking the stomach to fight for the Premier League title, claimed he had to seperate arguing team-mates during half-time of his side’s 4-4 draw against Tottenham and insisted an unnamed Gunners star insulted him and several colleagues.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was furious with Gallas’s outburst and reportedly summoned the centre-back to a meeting at the club’s London Colney training ground on Thursday.

Wenger has gone out of his way to defend Gallas against accusations that he lacks leadership skills ever since the defender was criticised for his on-pitch tantrum at the end of Arsenal’s draw at Birmingham last season.

But the former Chelsea star’s latest rant could prove the final straw for Wenger.

Although the French coach won’t rush into a decision before Saturday’s game at Manchester City, the Times claims he could hand the captain’s armband to Cesc Fabregas or Gael Clichy if the rest of Arsenal’s squad express unhappiness with Gallas’s comments.