Gilberto upset by Wenger announcement

Updated 08.28 Tue Aug 14 2007
Keywords: thierry henry, arsene wenger, arsenal, william gallas, gilberto, premier league, football, sport

Arsenal midfielder Gilberto is upset manager Arsene Wenger did not tell him William Gallas will be club captain.

Manager Arsene Wenger chose Gallas to replace the departed Thierry Henry as skipper, even though Gilberto was the regular stand-in while Henry was injured last season.

"I was surprised because I was captain all last season when Henry did not play" - Gilberto

Gilberto said: "Of course I was surprised because I was captain all last season when Henry didn't play, and after his move to Barcelona I naturally thought I would be this time.

"Arsene is the manager and it is his decision and I have to accept that. Life goes on and I will get on with my job like I always have.

"But I was surprised he didn't speak to me about his decision. He had the time to do it because I was at the training ground before it was made public.

"He didn't say anything to me and I just found out about it that evening when I saw it on the Arsenal website."

Gallas is the third Frenchman to become Arsenal's regular captain since Wenger joined the club in 1996.

Tony Adams was his first skipper and he was replaced by Patrick Vieira before Henry took over.

Gilberto added: "I wasn't upset about not being captain, but I was about the way I learnt about it."

"I will give the same commitment to the club that I always have. This is an important season."

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