Arsenal skipper launches attack on team-mates

9:51am Friday 21st November 2008

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ARSENAL captain William Gallas has launched a scathing attack on his team-mates, revealing details of in-fighting while also questioning their 'bravery' as they push for a first Premier League title in five years.

The Frenchman disclosed details of an dressing-room incident at half-time during the side's dramatic 4-4 draw with fierce rivals Tottenham last month, while he also condemned the antics of an unnamed team-mate, who he accused of being 'insulting.'

Arsene Wenger's team have fallen off the pace in recent weeks and have already suffered four defeats in their 13 league games. And Gallas insists that is down to a lack of courage from the players, who he also claimed were happy to pick up their money at the end of the week without applying themselves on the pitch.

"I have to win something this year. I have to win something, Arsenal has to win something. It's four or five years since Arsenal won anything - 2004 (the league title). That's nearly five years, and that's not good,” said an angry Gallas.

"(Big contracts) make the difference, perhaps. You can rest on your laurels, that's for sure.

“We are not brave enough in battle. I think we need to be soldiers. To be champions, you have to play big matches every weekend and fight," the 31-year-old added.

"We are coming up against teams who are not scared to play football against us, who are not scared to take us on at our place, and this is becoming dangerous for Arsenal.

"We have to be warriors. That is how the team will forge their character and experience."

However, perhaps the most infuriating part of the defender's tirade for Wenger was the revelation of friction within the camp. The French manager prides himself on his team's harmonious relationship and he will not take kindly to his skipper's comments.

Gallas insisted a player 'six years younger' than himself insulted the team during the match with Spurs at the Emirates. And if his age guidelines are anything to go by, one of Bacary Sagna, Robin van Perise or Emmanuel Eboue are the guilty party, as they are to only 25-year-olds in Arsenal's squad.

"There was a problem at half-time of the 4-4 draw with Tottenham," he said. "The only thing that I could say at half-time was 'guys, we resolve these problems after the match, not at halftime'.

"When as captain some players come up to you and talk to you about a player... complaining about him... and then during the match you speak to this player and the player in question insults us, there comes a time where we can no longer comprehend how this can happen," he said.

The outburst will raise further questions about Gallas' suitability for the Arsenal captaincy, with Wenger understood to be furious with his antics. The France international has already come under fire following his tantrum in a game against Birmingham City last season, as well as being pictured outside a nightclub with a cigarette hanging from his mouth.