Gallas: new-found spirit can lift us
Arsene Wenger’s men got the new campaign off to a positive start after they battled back from a goal down to beat Fulham 2-1 at Emirates Stadium — having trailed to a debut goal from David Healy after just 52 seconds.
A terrible mistake by keeper Jens Lehmann gifted the Cottagers that goal but victory was secured in the final minute of normal time through Alexander Hleb after Robin van Persie equalised from the spot late on.
The psychological lift the result gave the squad was clear by their celebrations at the final whistle. Manager Wenger declared that such a dramatic result in the first match, following the departure of talisman Thierry Henry in the summer, could “change a season for a team”.
Gallas was signed from Chelsea as part of the deal which took Ashley Cole to Stamford Bridge last year. And the player named captain in succession to Henry firmly believes this side can start to build their own legacy.
The new Gunners skipper declared: “We showed we can fight this year. It showed we have a good spirit. The squad are very compact. They want to win. They want to fight. They want to go back home and enjoy it.
“If you want to have that, you have to work very hard on the pitch. Maybe something will happen this year. Maybe we can win something.”
Gallas, 30 later this month, added: “When I came to Arsenal the one thing I wanted to do was win. Last year was not easy because we had too many injuries and this year every team has changed.
“I can tell you it changed from the pre-season — how the players train, how they fight on the pitch and when I saw that, for me I said ‘we will do something’.”
Gallas, however, maintained the Gunners have nothing to prove to anyone other than themselves.
“We don’t have to show everybody we are together — only for Arsenal,” said the former Chelsea defender.
“In pre-season we spoke a lot about that. We have to be compact, we have to play together. If we win, we win together. If we lost, we lost together.”
Gallas is enjoying his new leadership role at the club.
“I am very proud to be captain of Arsenal because before me you had captains like Patrick Vieira and Tony Adams,” said the France international.
“What I have to do is try to do the best job. I think only about this season and getting the maximum. I want everything to be fine.”
Gallas added: “I have experience and I have to speak with the young players to give them information and good advice. I don’t have to shout because they know what they have to do.”
Arsenal head to the Czech Republic today for the first leg of their crucial Champions League qualifier against Sparta Prague. Wenger revealed Eduardo da Silva was only “50/50” to play because of an ankle problem which kept him out against Fulham. With Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor (groin) also not yet fit, Wenger could again elect to play with Sunday’s match-winner Hleb in a more advanced position.
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