http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/11/05/sfnsmi105.xmlWilliam Gallas' appointment as captain has helped the young Arsenal team play with more passion.
This team is beating the weaker teams comfortably and has proved against Liverpool and Manu that they are up to the task. Last year it was the opposite.The youngsters need leadership by example and Gallas' barking out commands and sense of urgency on the field sends the right message to the younger players. Gallas alone is not responsible for the turnaround but his contribution cannot be minimized.
Telrgraph.co.UKWilliam Gallas is another Wenger masterstrokeLast Updated: 12:31am GMT 05/11/2007
He thumped his chest passionately, and more specifically his badge. He hugged his manager with unconfined joy after scoring and at the end held court in a tight huddle.
William Gallas was loving every minute. Having just denied Manchester United victory with his last-gasp swipe, Arsenal's captain was not about to go quietly without savouring the moment. Last off the pitch after mopping up the acclaim, the pumped-up centre-half finally disappeared down the tunnel a very happy man.
It did make you wonder. Maybe Arsene Wenger has got it right again. By making Gallas captain – against all expectations – perhaps Arsenal's manager has found the best way to keep his volatile defender on track for the next seven months.
And if Arsenal's young warriors preserve the same fighting spirit they displayed at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, maybe Wenger's appointment will even confound the long-held maxim about title-winning sides and their inspirational captains.
All the great teams seem to have them – galvanising figures who bind the team together in times of need, who lead by example, who say the right thing, whether it's in the dressing room beforehand or out on the pitch. Think of recent Premier League winners and the men handed the trophy: Roy Keane and Gary Neville at Manchester United, John Terry at Chelsea and Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira at Arsenal.
Fine players the lot, born winners to a man, but also cut out for captaincy. The responsibilities of leadership came naturally, so few were surprised when the armband came their way.
