SOCCER/ ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: IT'S NOT every week Arsene Wenger precedes his press briefing with a spot of lunch rustled up by Raymond Blanc, his favourite Michelin-starred chef, and a little chewing of the fat with the British prime minister and the French president.
There was a slightly surreal flavour to the Emirates Stadium yesterday as politics collided with sport. Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy held their meeting in one of the banqueting suites.
Diplomatic relations would be on Wenger's agenda, too. Having smiled his way through questions about whether he would fancy a run at the French presidency, and the thornier issue of whether he had any image tips for Sarkozy, he was put on the spot over William Gallas, his temperamental captain.
There have been loud noises emanating from the Arsenal dressing-room about the French defender's brand of leadership and degrees of dissatisfaction with it. The reverberations from his sit-in protest at the end of the 2-2 draw at Birmingham City, when he could not contain his frustration at the concession of the late equaliser, continue to be felt.
The disquiet was fuelled by a magazine article in which he spoke about his young team-mate Theo Walcott needing to develop further facets to his game. Gallas has suffered a dip in his own form - he was below par in Sunday's morale-sapping 2-1 defeat at Chelsea - and the accusation that he might be living in a glass house has been levelled.
Wenger was unusually critical of Gallas' performance at Stamford Bridge, yet he threw his support behind his captain yesterday, suggesting the criticism was knee-jerk. Gallas had been saluted for his leadership earlier in the season, particularly after he headed in the winner against Chelsea at the Emirates in December.
Arsenal's bad run of form - they have taken only four points from the last available 15 - has not made Gallas a bad captain, according to his manager.
"You have the same William Gallas now," said Wenger. "The same people (who are criticising him now) said it was a good choice to make him captain when we were five points ahead. You have to not go too much overboard. I don't question his leadership nor his position in the team.
"I read what he said in that magazine 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 (someone) at 18 years of age not to work? It's unbelievable. Is it an insult to say somebody has to work? I don't think so."
Wenger nodded vigorously when it was put to him that Gallas was a passionate and emotional player, but as he seeks to end Arsenal's Premier League slump ahead of next Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final first-leg with Liverpool - they travel to Bolton Wanderers' Reebok Stadium tomorrow, their bogey ground - he insisted that the effort required was collective.
"What we want to do is perform well as a team again and we know we can do that," Wenger said. "William has my full support and backing and I am completely behind him and the team as well."
Wenger was less diplomatic when the subject of international friendlies was raised.
Although he commentated on France's 1-0 win over England for French TV, he failed to sense too much excitement or purpose.
"I'm scared that in the modern game there is no room any more for friendly internationals just because people will not be interested in that any more," he said. "There is nothing at stake. People want to see competitive games."
Wenger is not a man for half measures. As he reflected on the setback of Bacary Sagna, his full-back, being out for a month with an ankle injury, he promised to finish the season at full tilt. Gallas will be at the heart of the drive.
- Guardian Service
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