Wenger, Domenech on Gallas collision course

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and French national coach Raymond Domenech squared up on Friday over the injury which has ended William Gallas’s domestic season.

Wenger insisted that it was right that Gallas played in the midweek Champions League clash against Barcelona even though the veteran French defender suffered a recurrence of a calf injury.

Domenech was furious that the influential Gallas was risked with the World Cup finals in South Africa due to get underway on June 11.

“I didn’t speak to (Domenech) after the game. But we have to first take care of the interests of Arsenal,” said Wenger.

“The French national team is important but Arsenal are as well and he is paid by the club – not the French national team. We have to use the players when they declare themselves fit.

“I don’t think it (the injury) will cost him his World Cup. He declared himself fit and I had (good) reports from the rehabilitation centre where he worked for ten days. He had four days training with the team too.

“Gallas is 32, soon 33. You ask a player of that experience do you feel ready to play, have you worked hard enough, do you feel ready to go into this game – when they say yes you have to believe them.”