Wenger warns Gallas: Any more mistakes and you lose captaincy

The Arsenal boss has strongly suggested that Kolo Toure is ready to take over as captain.

Gallas found himself hitting the headlines for the wrong reason last season, when he staged a bizarre sit-down protest after a late penalty denied Arsenal at Birmingham.

Arsene Wenger had to drag William Gallas off the pitch at Birmingham last season

The defender kicked an advertising hoarding and Wenger was forced to come out and drag his skipper down the tunnel.

Wenger told the Sun: 'He got a lot of criticism last year after what happened in the game at Birmingham.

'But, until then, everyone said he was a fantastic captain. So I think he deserves another go, to show his commitment. And then we will see where we stand at the end of the season.

'He acknowledged that he made some mistakes and he has learnt from it.

'He is an important player in the team and he plays in a position where it is easy to be the captain. '

Some of the other players who could be captain are still a bit young.

'I believe at the moment Kolo will be his assistant.'

Wenger also insisted the pain of last season would rive his men on in the new campaign.

The Gunners led the Premier League for much of the season, but fell away towards the end, and were also knocked out in the quarter-finals of the European Cup.

'Of course in a successful season you have to go through good and bad periods.

'We were only just short last year, we lost only three games.

'In two out of the three we were leading 1-0 — with 20 minutes to go against Chelsea and with 30 minutes to go against Man United.

'We have kept the basis of the team and the frustration we got from not winning it in the end will come out for the good.

'We have the strength and resolve to do it.

'We need first to get in that position and if we do that again, I believe we will show the needed resilience.'