Gael Clichy insists William Gallas has the confidence of Arsenal's players as club captain.

"In football everything goes quickly," Clichy told setantasports.com. "And for the first seven months of the season, he has been the best skipper in The Premier League because we didn't lose any games, we were five points ahead of Man United and we were playing fantastic (football) so there was nothing to complain about.

"Everyone was waiting for us to make mistakes and this game (against Birmingham) was what everyone was waiting for and William got criticised.

"I think William is a great player, we all know he is a great player. The reaction he had…personally I wouldn't have done the same. But he's passionate, the guy is really into Arsenal and he wants us to do well.

"First seven months: nothing to say about him, and then a game changed everything. Once again, it's anyone's opinion."