Willy not wonky, Gallas is the perfect captain insists Wenger

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And William Gallas drew generous praise at the end of a week in which his reputation has been battered.

Best man: Gallas has Wenger's full support

In spite of a shaky defensive display in Sunday's defeat at Chelsea and doubts raised about the Arsenal captain's ability to harness the support of his team-mates, Gallas was nominated by manager Arsene Wenger as the perfect man for the job.

Wenger said: "He didn't have the best of performances on Sunday and he would be the first to agree with that, but I don't question his leadership nor his position in the team.

"A lot of people have questioned his leadership but he is the same William Gallas about whom people said it was a good choice to make him captain when we were five points ahead.

"He is very passionate. I don't know whether he wears his heart on his sleeve too much but at times when things don't go as well, everybody is analysed, scrutinised a little bit more.

"What we want to do is perform well as a team again and we know we can do that. He has my full support. I am completely behind him and behind the team as well."

Wenger also defended the decision of Gallas to speak out recently about Arsenal team-mate Theo Walcott in a magazine article in which he claimed the young Englishman needed to work on adding variety to his game.

Wenger added: "I read what he said in this article and I agree completely with him. He said that Walcott could be the next Wayne Rooney but he has to work. What is wrong with that? You want player of 18 years of age not to work? It's unbelievable.

"I read it really carefully. It didn't say anything wrong on that. If you want to win the World Cup you have to accept that your players are highly exposed and you have to accept that you have to work. Is it an insult to say that somebody has to work? I don't know. I don't think so."