Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Rocky7 
Date:Friday October 24 2008
Time: 7:40PM
UK time is: 08:10:08
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Should Sneaky Cig Cost Billy The Armband?
William Gallas is in hot water with Arsene Wenger after he was pictured, in one of the less desirable rags, today with a cigarette in his mouth.
Arsene Wenger was a revolutionary upon his arrival in England, he changed the diets and social habits of the players and turned them from drunken layabouts into uber professionals, indeed he was so strict former striker Ian Wright once said he couldn't wait to play Millwall just so he would have some bananas to eat.
So you can imagine the dim view Le Boss would take of one of his players, but not just any player, his club captain, getting caught smoking.
I do wonder however, how dim a view it will be.
In any normal aspect of life smoking, whilst considered a dirty habit, is mostly acceptable (aside from the PC brigade in the government), but amongst sporting professionals, it's a massive no no ..... at least in this day and age.
William Gallas is the captain of Arsenal Football Club, he is the mentor to many, young and impressionable players, he gets paid handsome sums of money to play at the top of his game, and his actions have let us all down.
Is Arsene Wenger willing to relieve him of his captains duties as punishment? Will he be benched? Do you think he deserves a stiff sentence?
Let us know in the comments section below.
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Your Comments
it never affected Luca Vialli! He puffed like a chimney!
merlin
It doesn't affect some people Merlin ... I smoked for 15 years and was just as **** at football when I didn't smoke as when I did ... lol
Rocky7
It looked like he was only holding it until his wife put her stuff away.
Tom14
I don't buy that Tom, he's the one driving the car. And it might just be my cynical side, but there is the posture of a man who knows how to smoke!!
Rocky7
I think you need to calm down a bit to be honest. Rooney smokes, van Persie was caught fully blown smoking and toher players smoke. I know it is cool to dislike Gallas but give the guy a break, he wears guyliner for god sake! :D http://thegoonerforum.wordpress.com/2008/10/24/the-gallas-smoking-photo/#comment-24796
Tom14
The papers said it wasn't lit, so it's not clear if he was technically smoking. (Hehe just so we're clear, not clutching straws.)
GoonerLou
I need to calm down for asking for peoples opinons on it???? And just because other players smoke that makes it ok? I'm not sure where I said I disliked Gallas either, infact I've been a big backer of his in the past. Which is why I'm all the more disapointed.
Rocky7
Im not saying you are a hater, its just the "in" thing to be. Its a general comment that seems to be totally true to me. But I don't see a problem with it. He is 31, he will leave within the next two years. Of course i would rather him not smoke but it is not clear if he is or is not smoking and for all we know the fag has been drawn on.
Tom14
I guess we will find out in the next few days Tom, of Billy comes out and says he wasn't smoking then we have to take his word for it, if he says nothing then we know whats happened.
Rocky7
Oh he wasn't smoking it... he just had a cigarette in his mouth. Yea right! Yes he should be punished, a nice fine should be in order.
gunnerkid107
Didn't Robin get caught in Holland before? (Maybe not with a picture.) What happened next? The boss said nothing in public.
GoonerLou
I think a fine's a bit harsh gunnerkid. I absolutely hate smoking and what he's supposedly done is wrong. However, a fine would be a bit too extreme and he's rich anyway so it would hardly be a deterence. Either a very strong talking to or the temporary stripping of the armband would be best.
adamski243
If not for the injuries at the back now, I would've suggested to bench him against West Ham... Or if Kolo's perfectly fine, I'd say use Djourou-Kolo(C).
GoonerLou
Generally, if you don't smoke but are holding a cigarette for somebody, you don't hold in in your mouth! Here's my theory- Gallas and Wenger had a chat about giving up the armband because Gallas doesn't want it any more, so they staged this photo, giving Arsene cause to strip him of the armband while not tying it to his performances as captain.
elbondo
Kolo Toure would be a worse captain than Gallas. He really does not lead the Arsenal team and far too often makes silly mistakes. he does not need the pressure of being Arsenal captain. He needs to sort himself out and return to the form pre ACN.
Tom14
I wonder what the younger Arsenal players will see of this. Their own captain who is old enough to nearly be their fathers. I would be disappointed dearly. I would expect a captain to hold a clean CV off the pitch setting an example to 'me' of how I should act as a professional footballer (hypothetically speaking). Not caught with fags in his mouth as if he's some depressed bum struggling with the financial recession and the uphill struggle of life. Wenger must take out the large buckled belts and spiked cains for this. But I don't think he should be benched or de-captained. That wouldn't really help him, rather get him more angry. I know I would.
Thing
I am not a smoker, never smoked in my life and regularly used to nick figs from my best friends just to look cool. In fact I did it today. Big deal if he's smoking. Anyone heard of Tony Adams?
G4L
I cant believe how many people seem to be disapointed over a fag in the mouth. If he was snorting cocaine off a pros*itues back during a wild orgy with minors in a bath of vodka while making racial comments the day before a cup final then i could maybe understand
paul_ownz
Berba loves the odd smoke. He actually confessed he was a 'casual smoker'. Let Billy off.
Aussie Gooner
I think there are differences between Gallas being caught smoking and let say Rooney being caught. a) Rooney is not captain of MUFC and b) The sun shines out of his arse as far as the media are concerned so he will get away with it. Gallas however is the captain of Arsenal and one of the senior players at the club but at the moment not very popular with the fans. The modern proffesional isnt supposed to smoke. If he wanted to smoke, he should have done it in the privacy of his own home away from prying eyes. He said recently in an interview about gaining respect from his team mates again after Birmingham. Think he might have to start again now! I think a game or two on the bench would hurt him more than a fine tbh.
itsup4grabsnow
i think he should be removed from captaincy, arsenal is a team full of youngsters who needs guidance. what kind of message does it send to the youngsters? and furthermore by doing this, billy has undermined wenger's strict policy of health. i have nothing against smokers, but i do not condone it, i also feels disgusted if proffesionals such as billy gallas would even consider smoking, which means they are just throwing away their hard work that theyve done to shape their body, and to reach the levels of fitness that they are at. so, billy gallas should be removed as captain i say.
gooner_till_i_die
I'm of the opinion that he should be allowed to do what he wants, roll models this and that, and keeping a strict dietary regime shouldn't come into it. The blokes a grown man not a child.
Boxer
I really cannot believe that people think the way that gooner_till_i_die does. It sounds like complete *********. Rather than looking at it rationally it seems to be any excuse to use something against anyone or anything. I don't know what the reaction would be if Cesc was seen smoking but we all know that nobody gave a ***** about Robin being caught out. Of course there was no "photo evidence" (or lollipop as I like to call it) with van Persie but **** me! Gallas gets a bloody hard time of it doesn't he? He has not been the best captain but he is the only decent choice we have at the club. Some of you need to get a life if you consider being caught with a lollipop/fag/photoshop drawing in your mouth.
Tom14
Exactly. Maybe he should lose the captaincy over what aftershave he uses.
paul_ownz
What's this supposed to mean? No explanation: http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1766_4388453,00.html
GoonerLou
I do not have a problem with smokers but since he gets paid to play his absolute best for this club, than smoking should be strictly prohibited. I don't want to get into an ethical argument about smoking but there is no doubt that it inhibits lung capacity, and professional footballers in this day and age should not be endulging in cigs.
gunnerkid107
And adamski243, the fine part was a joke for the reasons you described.
gunnerkid107
Is Wenger looking for excuses to drop Gallas?? ehehe
nevidimka
So Billy had an unlit cigs in his mouth? Than less than what Clinton had been doing?! It must be a very slow News day. I like understand that it doesn't look good for a footballer to be smoking, but it was a unlit Cigs so what's the Problems!!!
hackneyval
Well, if Gallas was a smoker, wouldn't AW know about it?
korodon
It was unlit, and GK it was in his hand, not his mouth. I think Billy might be ecused from a fine this time, perhaps just some stern words and some PR management practice is in order.
ArsenalRob
tom14, cesc wouldnt be caught smoking, because he already said before, he had his first cigarette in spain, and he didnt like it. as for van persie, cynical as it may sound, its no biggie, because hes not much of a leader. gallas has just made a complete ***** of himself what with lacklustre showing, and now smoking, which shows that he doesnt value the armband and its significance, at least he did well at upton park tonight. as for the cigarette, pretty sure it was lit, at least the one in the car is, you can see the ash at the tip of the cigarette, and smoke clouds near his chin.
gooner_till_i_die
**Delusion Alert**
Tom14
Some over reaction from some here. Yes, perhaps he deserves some criticism for this, coz this isnt expected from an Arsenal captain, but nothing more than that. We've had an alcohlic as captain FFS, and he is still well-respected by gooners. Move on from this. Gallas and Wenger will sort this out behind closed doors.
prits
Tom 14, delusion? http://thegoonerforum.wordpress.com/2008/10/24/the-gallas-smoking-photo/#comment-24796 really look at that pic, and tell me that hes not smoking that cigarette.
gooner_till_i_die
Firstly it is not lit, secondly he is sucking it like a lolly and lastly, who gives if he was smoking?
Tom14
okay, you have your opinion, i have mine, lets leave it at that.
gooner_till_i_die
FFS why the massive over reaction??? He was pictured holding a ciggarette, not smoking it, eating it, lighting it, nadda! Just holding it, his wife smokes, millions of people smoke, he doesn't smoke, if he did it wouldn't be the end of the world and the mass over reaction, hysteria and other total bo**ocks being spouted by the media and unfortunatly, arsenal fans such as clearly illustrated above is sad, pathetic and totally OTT! Sort it out people, it's not like he was found in a room full of hookers, smoking, drinking and engaging in group sex with gold digging slu*s and team mates, that would be shocking! Oh, that would be a Man Utd xmas party, but no here we are with people having a scream up over the Arsenal captain seen with an unlit ciggarette ion his hand. Try and get some fu**ing perspective people!
LondonGooner
I think gallas didn't have a ciggie, could have been tom's dick. Or it was tom with billy's.
bseymour
ArsenalRob I beg to differ. The cig WAS in his mouth. Look at the picture gooner_till_i_die posted
gunnerkid107
gunnerkid107 - So that means he needs to be castigated by all and sundry??? It is pathetic this sad and OTT reaction from a lot of fans, if they just want to crap on Gallas because they don't like him then atleast have the courage to say so, instead of hiding behind this false charade of "anti smoking" rubbish!
LondonGooner
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