Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger seriously considered selling sacked captain William Gallas last summer, it has been revealed.

The Mail on Sunday says Gallas is now suspended from the first team and will be transferred in January. Wenger even considered moving him in the summer, when he openly debated whether he was a suitable captain.

Eventually, Wenger made what seemed to be an expedient decision. Had he stripped Gallas of the captaincy then, there was a real fear the centre-half would demand a move and Wenger could not afford to lose him.