Home > Football > FIVE candidates for the Arsenal captaincy - but are any of them up to it?
by Tom Pell on 21 November 2008
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So, William Gallas seems to have finally lost the plot, and with it, possibly his Arsenal captaincy.
Arsene Wenger must be at the end of his tether putting up with the erratic, outspoken and unreliable centre-half and after a scathing attack on Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie, Arsenal's ever-promising youngsters and the Poirot-esque mystery of the disliked ‘six years younger than me’ star, it seems that change is desperately needed in order to save the Gunners' season.
Here are five of the best candidates, yet sadly, their best may still not be good enough...
Kolo Toure: Ol’ Bill’s usual defensive partner and vice captain, Toure, jumps straight to the forefront boasting six years of devoted service to the club, longer than any other current player. He has seen Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry leave and become accustomed to picking up the pieces and leading by example week in week out.
A consummate professional, his pacy and powerful performances have established Toure as one of the Premier League's more feared defenders and, at 27, he is one of the oldest members of the Arsenal squad and boasts much-needed experience, unlike Gallas, who seems to have become a grumpy old man at 31. However, he does lack the ferocity of a Nemanja Vidic, the guile of a Ricardo Carvalho and most importantly, the leadership of a John Terry.
Manuel Almunia: Faring slightly better at the moment than another Manuel, Almunia has led the Gunners on a number of previous occasions. His ever-so-subtle rise from part time back-up to replacing the eternal misery that was Jens Lehmann, to becoming a very solid Premier League goalkeeper has gone mildly unnoticed. Presumably that’s why he decided to dye his hair that ridiculous shade of what can only be described as ‘luminous’.
At an older 31 than Gallas and Mikael Silvestre, Almunia is the oldest member of Arsenal's kindergarden squad. Good experience. He has also played in a Champions League final. Good experience. However, he has no international caps due to the domination of Iker Casillas, and being tempted to become an English goalkeeper can be nothing but trouble. Look how Scott Carson’s getting on, and he wasn’t born in Pamplona.
Cesc Fabregas: Liverpool have Steven Gerrard. Chelsea have Frank Lampard. Manchester United have Paul Scholes. The midfield magicians whose wizardry and will-power win games when all is lost, the manager is out of ideas and the young guns have given up. Yet, Fabregas still is one of the said young guns, so even though he has undeniable ability, his tendency to go missing sometimes voids his ability to inspire.
Maybe this is harsh, as Cesc proved his critics wrong and was a changed man for his country during Euro 2008. It showed that with time and the hopeful proof of his still questionable loyalty, he can be the man to depend on in coming years. If he was 25, the obvious choice.
Robin van Persie: On his day, Van Persie is one of the biggest talents in world football. Yet when he chooses, he in an inconsistent, lazy hot-head. His age makes him a prime contender for the Poirot mystery, and his recent assault on Thomas Sorensen will do little to enforce his captaincy credibilities to a surely already unconvinced Arsene Wenger.
Theo Walcott: Theo is the star, the excitement - the passion, the risk. The future, the feeling that Arsenal may once again lift doubles, reach Champions League finals and go seasons unbeaten. His rise to the forefront has been as well documented as any, but the maturity shown in dealing with the pressure has been exemplary.
So why can’t Theo take the role? Because he’s about 12 years old, that’s why, and herein lies the problem.
Arsenal may have a young, thriving, enthralling squad playing a new sexy brand of total football, but every good side needs a leader, and leaders don’t grow on trees, they don’t appear aged 17 out of a youth academy, and they can’t be bought in to a new squad and be expected to take the wheel of a ship spiralling out of control.
Good luck Arsene, you’ll need it.
Comments (3)
by Ernest Midra on November 22, 2008
Truth is, Arsene wenger with all due respect is a good manager. bottom line? he just cant seem to get the fact that the team requires a holder in the midfield, call him a no.6 Denilson is just not yet there. he is good in attack but splashes of his laxity in playing the holding role have shown. piece of advise, buy someone with the steel and nerve but yet with quality. Denilson is good on the attack playing a free role, he will score. come Jan transfer, Wenger should have got it by then.
by Timothy Sylvester on November 23, 2008
I love what wenger has done in the past , but unfortunately the old cliche( not clichy) applies"what have you done for me lately?" Sadly Wenger through his rose tinted glasses ahs turned my club into a farce, a sad joke. Before we could reallistically challenge for honours now 4th place seems too far for this group. Simply put Wenger has destroyed the core of this team and not adequately re-inforced in key positions. Clichy has become a liability, yes he can attack but can't defend and that is what he is there for. Gallas has never been as good as he was at Chelsea, Toure lacks heart, Silvester simply too injury and mistake prone. Alminia is simply not good enough to be first choice keeper. Midfield lacks heart, muscle and desire. Denilson is 2 seasons away from being a decent player. Song is simply too slow, both in thought and action. Diaby not given enough time in midfield. They look a petulent bunch who have no sense of team spirit. Wenger always stresses belief and spirit but Arsenal under Wenger always had a brittle spirit - too easily taken out of their stride- eg.: how easily did the 49 unbeaten run end at Old Trafford- even then did they lack the gumption to stand up to a test. The season prior to that as well when they lost the league against Leeds united. If the board claims to have funds available to spend why not? Wenger claims players are too expensive- ridiculous- It is a sellers market and clubs who sell the players dictate the price. If Wenger cannot accept that then he should leave and go play fantasy manager on a playstation. He was not willing to cough up the cash for Alonso ( apparently "Pool wanted 15 mill and Wenger wanted to pay 10!!!) He also enquired about Kalou from Chelsea- the club has leaked goals ( and stupid ones at that 4 2 seasons and he wants to buy an attacker!) Flamini had bucket loads of heart and a willingness to roll up his sleaves and gratf. What happens? He is allowed to leave without much of a fight from the club. I think the board should tell wenger to list the players he wants in in January, as well as tell his underperforming babies that they ahve untill the transfer market to prove thier worthiness or be soled to whoever wants them. If he fails to strengthen the squad come january and the season ends trophiless he should leave. he has taken the club backwards this season. All the teams in the EPL have improved yet Wenger sat on his hands and allowed players like Gilberto to leave without replacement . then urgers us the supporters to get behind the team!? Why should we bother anymore? It is insulting to see what has happened. Wenger was breath of fresh air but has become stale and suffocating. At least Gallas was honest enought o admit that the team sucks- he should have included himself in that assesment as well but at least someone at the club has spoken out. I have supported this club through thick and thin for over 15 years so I know about the highs and lows but these lows are due to Wenger's stubborness. He is fully to blame and should at least hold his hand up and admit the squad is waek. he says at the start of the campaign that there is depth but complains 2 months in that they are fatuiged, if there was depth he could rotate and solve that issue, or am I delusional? No competition for the left back slot is also a point of concern, Clichy has no competition for his spot so can afford to be slack , at my count he cost us 9 oints this season already!!! And what does Wenger do, he sends Traore( a natuaral replacement) out on loan to strengthen another team!!! Wenger, you might know, but it simply does not show!!!!
by Super-yid on November 24, 2008
Diference is between us and you lot is that we know we aren't great, but all we constantly hear from you lot is this fantastic total football you play and how you play football the right way! well here's a reality check, the idea of competing in a game of football is to win the game and ultimately then go on and win trophies which is something that Ar5ena1 haven't achieved in almost 5 years, so how can you be playing the "right" way? Also you are an English side playing football in the English top flight, yet constantly you field teams without one Englishman and when you lot are informed of this point your answer is that English players aren't good enough! well if that is the case then why are all the more successfull teams over the past 5years been made up of an English backbone? face it your a deluded, overated, scum-filled bunch of anti-English wa*nkers and your team is SH*T!!!!!!
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