William Gallas: I did make mistakes as Arsenal captain

William Gallas has held his hand up to the "mistakes" that cost Arsenal dear last term and conceded he had to learn to be Arsene Wenger's captain.

The French defender's behaviour raised dressing room hackles last season as the Gunners' title bid collapsed under the pressure of the run-in.

But Gallas said: "You know, I learned a lot, you want to be the best captain, give good advice to your players, but sometimes you can make mistakes.

"So I think this season I know what I'm going to do and I know I am ready to change my way to speak to players.

"Last season we were near to winning something, I hope this season it will be different.

Everybody knows what they have to do, we are ready."

Gallas is set for his first run out of the season either against Stuttgart tomorrow or in the weekend's Emirates Cup games with Juventus and Real Madrid, after he was one of several senior players left out of last night's 10-2 romp over a Burgenland XI in Ritzing.

Of those who played, only Manuel Almunia, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy are likely to start against West Brom on the opening day.

Aaron Ramsey began the turkey shoot inside 45 seconds against the Austrian parttimers, with Nicklas Bendtner scoring four inside the first 38 minutes.

Mexican teenager Carlos Vela grabbed a hat-trick, while Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott were also on target.

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