Tough Arsenal won't be bullied this season, warns Gallas

Bully Arsene Wenger's young boys and they will crack under the pressure. Prick at their fragile confidence and they will collapse. Get at Cesc Fabregas and they will fall apart.

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Ready for a battle: William Gallas

That is the widespread belief but William Gallas will not tolerate excuses at a club who have not competed for the title since 2004.

Fabregas, Gael Clichy, Denilson, Robin van Persie, Tomas Rosicky and Alexander Hleb are part of the new breed at the Emirates Stadium but the time has come for them to challenge for trophies.

Gallas, 30 later this month, is the club's new vice - captain and yesterday he spoke with authority as he outlined Arsenal's objectives for the coming season.

Off the pitch he is taking his role seriously as an ambassador for Creating Chances - a community initiative set up by the Premier League - and on it he is determined to contest the title race with equal vigour.

The France defender said: "Age cannot be used as an excuse for not challenging for the League any more. The players understand how they have to play sometimes, they are professionals and they've had another year's experience.

"As far as I'm concerned, they will be ready this season. I saw that in pre- season when we played Paris Saint- Germain, Inter Milan, Ajax and Lazio. The spirit was different, everyone fought for his team-mates and, when you see that, you realise why things will be different.

"We've changed as a team and we know we have to fight, to be compact and to defend well. We know we can score at any time because we have the quality up front like Emmanuel Adebayor, Van Persie and Eduardo da Silva.

"I don't think teams can beat us by kicking us any more. Our players understand football better. Sometimes football isn't only about playing well. You have to be ready to fight when you're up against teams who play long balls."

The post-Thierry Henry climate is clearly having a positive effect on Arsenal's progressive young team and they played without fear in the Emirates Cup and the Amsterdam Tournament as part of their pre - season programme. The shackles came off and there was a sense of solidarity about a team who spent last season in the wilderness.

They won both trophies in style but the trick will be to repeat the success when they start the season against Fulham on Sunday without Henry, who has left for Barcelona.

Arsenal were beaten eight times last season but Gallas shrugs off the failure to compete for the major honours as the club going through a transitional period.

"It was about adaptation last year," he said. "But when I'm on the pitch, I want to win everything. I wasn't surprised Thierry left but we have to move on and prove that we can play without him."

Jens Lehmann and Kolo Toure are the only surviving members of the 'Invincibles' era, but there is a growing feeling that another wave of Arsenal players will be able to leave an indelible mark on the Premiership.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham have all spent huge amounts of money in the close season, but Gallas believes that his team will give the other heavyweights a run for their money.

"This season will be different. A lot of clubs will be ready for the title race, like Tottenham, like Portsmouth, like us.

"Nobody can predict they will definitely win the League this season, so it will be very exciting."

They certainly know how to win games but now Wenger's side have to learn to win ugly.