Tottenham's William Gallas: Arsene Wenger was wrong to let me leave Arsenal]

Tottenham defender William Gallas has insisted that former boss Arsene Wenger made a mistake in allowing him to leave Arsenal.

The Frenchman set out to prove to Wenger that at 33 years of age he could still play at the highest level, and believes Gunners boss was wrong to let him go.

“Did Arsene Wenger make a mistake in not keeping me? He made a choice, but indeed I believe he made a mistake.” Gallas told French magazine L’Equipe.

"They decided to not make the effort to keep me. It's a choice I respect, and they respected the fact I didn't want the wages they proposed.

“In the street, Arsenal's fans asked me why I left. The coach thought I was a finished player. I proved he was wrong."

Gallas spent three of his four seasons as an Arsenal player as captain, making 140 appearances, and he was never far from controversy. Cracks began to appear in his spell as captain against Birmingham at St Andrews, where Eduardo suffered a horrific leg break and Arsenal twice threw away a lead to eventually draw 2-2, leaving Gallas sat on the half-way line almost in tears.

Questions began to be asked of Gallas’ reign as captain, but Wenger vowed he would stick with the Frenchman as skipper.

When reflecting on his time with the armband, Gallas said: “When I was captain I wanted to give a message, but they didn’t get it.

“I may have been clumsy, but the substance was right.”Tottenham defender William Gallas has insisted that former boss Arsene Wenger made a mistake in allowing him to leave Arsenal.

The Frenchman set out to prove to Wenger that at 33 years of age he could still play at the highest level, and believes Gunners boss was wrong to let him go.

“Did Arsene Wenger make a mistake in not keeping me? He made a choice, but indeed I believe he made a mistake.” Gallas told French magazine L’Equipe.

"They decided to not make the effort to keep me. It's a choice I respect, and they respected the fact I didn't want the wages they proposed.

“In the street, Arsenal's fans asked me why I left. The coach thought I was a finished player. I proved he was wrong."

Gallas spent three of his four seasons as an Arsenal player as captain, making 140 appearances, and he was never far from controversy. Cracks began to appear in his spell as captain against Birmingham at St Andrews, where Eduardo suffered a horrific leg break and Arsenal twice threw away a lead to eventually draw 2-2, leaving Gallas sat on the half-way line almost in tears.

Questions began to be asked of Gallas’ reign as captain, but Wenger vowed he would stick with the Frenchman as skipper.

When reflecting on his time with the armband, Gallas said: “When I was captain I wanted to give a message, but they didn’t get it.

“I may have been clumsy, but the substance was right.”

Goal.com