Who should be the next Arsenal captain?

Frank Praverman

We asked: "should William Gallas be stripped of the Arsenal captaincy?" and 82 per cent of you answered with a resounding "yes".

Fine. So who should replace him?

I couldn't put it more blatantly than this reader, Emery Spencer, who said: "And who exactly would be the new captain? The 21-year-old can't control himself hothead Cesc Fabregas? I think it's in Arsenal's best interest to keep him as far away from the referee as possible. Gael Clichy? He doesn't seem the type to say anything - unlikely to be captain material. Manuel Almunia? He should be fearing for his place!Kolo Toure? It seems to me that he's no longer first choice either. Everybody else is either made of glass (Robin van Persie, Tomas Rosicky, Abou Diaby), too new (Samir Nasri), has the wrong personality or are not first choice."

Blimey, when you put it like that they really are struggling.

Let's take it that Gallas is on borrowed time - who should replace him? Vote below and if you go for "other", tell us who your man is.

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Comments

[Barrie Collins]

Just make sure the new captain is not six years younger than Gallas!

[Fintan Keane]

There is not one single leader at the club. No-one prepared to put his balls on the line, grab the squad by the scruff of the neck and give them all a well deserved kick up the arse. Whinging, petulent, spoilt kids. The pressure comes on them, they crumble and then complain about opponents being too physical. Well guess what boys? It is a physical game. You must, first and foremost, match your opponents work rate and hunger, run as far and as hard as they do, tackle as fiercely as they do, track back and cover as often as they do, compete in the air as they do and then have the moral courage to play the game by getting on the ball and passing. Only when you match your opponents for all of the above can you then show your skills and talents. You must earn the right to play. When all things are equal the side with the greatest technique, skills and movement will win the day. Arsenal expect everyone to stand off them and allow them time and space to do their stuff. They will also complain if you put too many high balls into their box! Sides generally reflect the image and beliefs of their manager and here Arsenal are certainly in the mould of Wenger. Petulent, bad losers, they fail to see and address their weaknesses, disrespectful to their opponents - pizzagate, Stoke, Birmingham, Spurs 4-4 etc. Gallas is a prime example. What sort of captain sits in the centre circle of the pitch crying? Like a baby! I would not only have striped him of the captaincy but shown the self opinionated self serving pounce the exit door. Would Fergie have stood for that? I think we all know the answer to that. The irony of it all is that Gallas is the weakest link in that whole side.

[Alistair]

We have a very young squad now, nothing wrong with having a young leader. Fabregas is quite experienced and has the most respect within the squad as a player. If Wenger wanted a proper leader of the team he should have not been getting rid of our legends like Pires, Veira, Henry, Gilberto. Hell, Flamini would have made a great captain, but right now Fabregas would be the best choice and I think he would thrive under the responsibility.

[Cococabana]

Got to be gunnersaurus

[eamon gunna blow]

it really is a bad time to lose a captain no matter how poor he can sometimes be,
i dont think its the ideal situation but i do have a sneaky feeling that Fabregas mite just step up if given the armband, he has been missing some thing this year but we all know he has the goods inside him this could well be the thing that brings it out, this sort of responsibility and faith can and often does change players

[Jim v O]

Get somebody with stature and experience in the January transfer window. Clarence Seedorf comes to mind. He's seen it all.

[Chris]

If only Flamini were still at the club. Otherwise i'd recomend him. Last season he was one of the most vocal on the pitch and really encouraging the others backed up with his fine performances.
Well i say give the armband to Toure and vice captain either Clichy or Fabregas.
If Silvestre had been at the club longer the he's a shot too.

[kastury]

adebayor for the captaincy.....

if not, give it to silvestre...but ....

[David]

Whilst Cesc can be a volatile character, so too could Roy Keane, and he made a pretty good fist of being a captain. Cesc's vocal, well liked, dynamic and hasnt (touch wood) be hit by the mr glass curse like many other of the experiecned players.

Lets not forget how young Rodney was when he became captain.

[Tim Clark]

Gael Clichy for me should be the new captain. He is one of the only players that has won the league with Arsenal, he is our most consistent player bar a few slips ups (literally!) and he is one of the only players that is almost guaranteed to start. He may not be the most vocal on the pitch but we can see week in week out he gives 100% is up and down the line every minute of the game and he actually seems to care whether we win or lose. Cesc is too young but he is the only other player we have who could do the job. As said Toure is no longer a starter, Almunia may not be number 1 by next season and Van Persie's sending off against Stoke proves he isn't ready for the armband. Clichy 110% for me as captain!!

[Rob P]

There is no-one at that club who is a leader of men. Plenty who act like school kids. Plenty who look after themselves first and foremost. Plenty who are quiet. (Plenty of talented footballers). No real leaders though. The days of Viera and Adams must seem like a long time ago to Arsenal fans.