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Captain’s Log Starship Wenger: Adams, Vieira, Henry, Toure, Gallas and Cesc

Why do Arsenal’s skippers want to leave the club?

20 May, 2011 10:00 8 comments
Captain’s Log Starship Wenger: Adams, Vieira, Henry, Toure, Gallas and Cesc

Fabregas: There goes another one…

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Adams retired.

Vieira sold.

Henry asked for a transfer, and sold.

Toure asked for a transfer, and sold.

Gallas stripped of the captain’s armband and left without signing a new contract.

Cesc asked for a transfer.

Wenger inherited Adams. Tony Adams (with David O'Leary) is the stand out example of what a modern era Arsenal captain should be. You also have to give Tony total respect for the painfully honest admissions about his private life. My favourite Arsenal memory is Tony scoring against Everton at Highbury in 1998.

Since then four out of five captains have walked away. Not exactly a vote of confidence, by the club’s leading players, in the manager.

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8
comments

  1. Wayne Carr

    May 21, 2011, 9:25 #7277

    aj - if leadership is so fundamentally British, how come England can't find an adequate English manager to lead its football team? Maybe Ashley Cole was a great example of this English leadership and if we gave him the captaincy he would have been committed to the club. Also to the author, David O'Leary wasn't a great captain, he jacked the job in in the early to mid 80s. Also I think all 'articles' on this site should be at least 1000 words minimum, otherwise it really should just be on the forum as a talking point.

  2. Westie

    May 21, 2011, 8:36 #7275

    Tony Adams was made captain at 21 years of age - for me, Wilshire absolutely has to be captain within the next 3 years. He tries to drive the team forward with his play and he's the only player this season that even attempts to grab the game by the neck.

  3. Sarf Lunden

    May 20, 2011, 12:38 #7251

    The point about Viera and Henry is valid. But....it's the players in decline, like Giggs, Scholes, Gary Neville that have kept Manc Scum in contention when their younger players struggled. Gary Neville made a very good point on Radio 5 when he said "Arsenal are the best team in the league - until March".

  4. Mick Appleton

    May 20, 2011, 12:05 #7248

    Most of the captains you have mentioned were made captain to stop them from leaving. Cesc, TH14 or Gallas would not be my choice for the arm band but appeasement was the order of the day. Of the current crop TV is the only one who I think has what it takes, when Cesc goes this summer I hope he is offered it.

  5. David

    May 20, 2011, 9:34 #7237

    Viera and Henry were both in decline when sold and neither have attained the standards they set for themselves at Arsenal. Toure was never Arsenal's 1st choice captain - just like Almunia has never been. Gallas was not club captain when he left. It has always been Fabregas' ambition to one day play for Barcelona and it is inevitable that he will one day play for them, probably very soon.

  6. Izo,kenya

    May 20, 2011, 9:07 #7231

    Not being racist but i think an english captain can be committed to their club as shown by adams,gerrard,terry.they want to be legends at their club and win.let wenger nurture wilshere n arsenal will have a long term captain.

  7. aj

    May 20, 2011, 8:54 #7230

    As a military nation, we all feel that it is an honour to be put in a position of authority.The English strive for this kind of recognition and the respect it gives you from your peers.We take leadership seriously in all walks of life.I just don't think culturally that overseas managers and players understand this.

  8. Stephen

    May 20, 2011, 8:42 #7229

    And all the players who left weren't british. In the EPL, you should have a british player as your captain..