Wenger is set to hand Gallas a second chance as Arsenal skipper

Arsene Wenger is set to hand William Gallas a second chance as Arsenal skipper – just to keep him at the club.

The Gunners boss has spent the summer contemplating whether to take the armband off his French defender and give it to either Cesc Fabregas or Kolo Toure.

But although he has yet to confirm his final decision it seems that Wenger will choose to ignore the demands from Arsenal fans and officials to replace Gallas.

And the Arsenal manager’s mind was made up last week amid news Paris St Germain want to add Gallas to their ranks.

The French club are waiting in the background and ready to pounce at the first sign of unrest from Gallas.

And Wenger can ill afford to upset the centre-half and risk losing him so close to the start of the Premier League season.

When asked about interest in Gallas at the unveiling of new signing Claude Makelele from Chelsea, PSG president Charles Villeneuve said: “We would be happy to be given a ring by William Gallas, very pleased. But for the moment there is no news.”

The issue of Gallas’ leadership has been under the spotlight ever since he lost his rag at Birmingham in February after a last-gasp penalty denied Arsenal victory and led to his bizarre one-man protest in the centre circle.

Despite Wenger publicly defending the former Chelsea star’s actions at the time, privately he gave him a severe dressing down and warned him his position as captain was under review.

A significant number of Arsenal fans have voiced their view that Gallas should be stripped of the captaincy in favour of Ivory Coast star Toure, while the matter has also been debated at recent board meetings.

But, while viewing Fabregas as the ideal long-term solution, Wenger is concerned the Spanish superstar, at just 22, is still too young.

And Toure facing a race against time to be fit for August 16 after falling ill with malaria, Wenger has no option but to stick with Gallas.

However, the temperamental ace, who turns 31 next month, has been told that if he steps out of line again he will lose the job with immediate effect.