Gallas launches bitter tirade

Arsenal captain William Gallas has admitted that there is some tension within the ailing Gunners squad.

The France international has slammed some of his team-mate who, he believes, do not have the necessary character to bring any silverware to the Emirates Stadium.

The former Chelsea star told the Associated Press: "We have to understand that, to be champions, you have to play big matches every weekend and fight.

"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 are not brave enough in battle. I think we need to be soldiers. We have to be warriors. There are teams who can do it well against us and we have to be able to face up to these attacks.

"That is how they will forge their character and how they will get experience. Even though they've played a certain number of matches, they're still young and still learning.

"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.

"I am trying to defend myself a bit without giving names. Otherwise I'm taking all the blame. It's very frustrating. I'm 31, the player is six years younger than me."