Gallas has 'ingredients' to lead Arsenal, says Wenger

William Gallas has all the ingredients to captain Arsenal, according to the manager Arsène Wenger. The French defender wore the armband for Wednesday night's 1-0 defeat by Red Bull Salzburg in the final match of the Gunners' pre-season trip to Austria.

Wenger maintains there is no problem between him and Gallas, who turns 30 next month, despite the harsh criticism of the club from the former Chelsea man over the summer.

Gallas had claimed "several players are questioning the club's future" following the departure of talisman Thierry Henry to Barcelona and that he was "not at Arsenal to play for third place".

However, Wenger shrugged off suggestions there was any rift with the World Cup finalist, who had an injured-plagued season last year, and indicated Gallas was one of the leading contenders to take over from Henry as first-team captain.

"William has all the ingredients to be captain - it is him or players like Gilberto, Kolo Touré," Wenger said, "He has got a lot of experience. At the back is the best position to captain the team because you are in a position where you see all the problems on the pitch - that is a better position than for a centre-forward or wide player."

The Brazil midfielder Gilberto stood in for Henry during last season, but is not set to link up with the Arsenal team until early August following a break after the Copa America.

Wenger, though, maintains the decision on who will lead his side out at Emirates Stadium for the opening game against Fulham on 12 August is not high on his current agenda.

"We go game by game," he said in an interview broadcast by Arsenal TV Online. "We are in a preparation period at the moment and at this time, the captain problem is not the most important problem for us - it is to be fit. You have to give us some time, show patience and continue to play with the spirit we have shown in Austria."

Despite the loss at Bulls Arena on Wednesday night, Wenger was content enough with the performance of what was a strong side. New signing Eduardo da Silva made his first start, and could have put the game beyond the hosts before Vladimir Janocko hit a 76th-minute winner.

"He has worked very hard and has shown he has top quality," Wenger said of the Brazilian-born Croatian striker. "He could have scored four." Wenger added: "Apart from the result, everything else was OK."