http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/777831/Arsenal-News-William-Gallas-Chelsea-Jose-Mourinho-own-goal

Quote

Gallas left Chelsea for Arsenal in acrimonious circumstances in 2006 in a deal which saw Ashley Cole move the other way.

Reports claimed the Frenchman said he would score an own goal for the Blues if they didn’t let him leave.

Gallas, now retired, has rejected that accusation and says he left purely because he wasn’t offered what he wanted.

“That was not true,” he said on Soccer AM.

"I told the club, I like to play with my heart, when I play I give 100 per cent.

"Because we were negotiating my contract, they didn't want to give me what I want, so I said to them I want to leave.

"It was a very difficult decision to leave Chelsea, they gave me everything."

Gallas made 159 Premier League appearances for Chelsea in five years, winning two titles.

At the time I wasnt 100% on the swap but it turned out to be the best in the long term. Gallas was part of our best ever defence (statistically speaking) so we can always be grateful for that. However he did move to arsenal and spuds.

NOt sure i ever bought into the story that he'd score an own goal if we didn't trade him.

 

He was a fantastic defender, but getting Ashley Cole in the deal was certainly the better

Worked out well in the end but Galas is one of the best defenders I have ever seen. Not a natural leader and that perhaps didn't make him stand out but he everything else

17 minutes ago, barak81 said:

Worked out well in the end but Galas is one of the best defenders I have ever seen. Not a natural leader and that perhaps didn't make him stand out but he everything else

Agreed. He was fantastic for us and I was gutted when he left. It was no coincidence that we didn't complete a hattrick of titles the following season, as our defence just wasn't as good without him. He had incredible versatility, being able to play RB, LB and CB, and had exceptional pace. Scored a few goals too, none better than the last minute winner V Spuds.

He was never as good anywhere else, fortunately, and come over as a bit of a Pollock, but he was an integral part of our success in JM's first spell.

7 hours ago, ivorycoast said:

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/777831/Arsenal-News-William-Gallas-Chelsea-Jose-Mourinho-own-goal

At the time I wasnt 100% on the swap but it turned out to be the best in the long term. Gallas was part of our best ever defence (statistically speaking) so we can always be grateful for that. However he did move to arsenal and spuds.

Plus the deal made CFC more English & le arse Bien plus de français

Saw his goals for us yesterday again allmost all of them were him getting on the end of a knockdown to score from three yards, his movement on free kicks and corners was unreal.

Imagine him, JT and Ricky as part of a back three.

Gallas was one of my favourites when he was playing with us, so I was gutted with the circumstances of his departure at the time.

With the benefit of hindsight, bringing in Ashley Cole was a great acquisition for the club and Gallas never reproduced his best form.

Quality, quality player, gutted when he left. Ranieri second best signing after Lampard.

Great defender, left at the right time though as he was going downhill and Ashley was one of the best left backs in Europe.

20 hours ago, jack_super_class said:

Quality, quality player, gutted when he left. Ranieri second best signing after Lampard.

Cech.

 He always managed Thierry Henry better than anybody else.

On 3/11/2017 at 23:20, Argo said:

Saw his goals for us yesterday again allmost all of them were him getting on the end of a knockdown to score from three yards, his movement on free kicks and corners was unreal.

Imagine him, JT and Ricky as part of a back three.

Except for the belter against Spurs, what a goal that was!

Cracking goal!

 

Great player for us, but even though he rufutes the claim he threatened to score an own goal, he still admits to holding the club to ransom and moving to a direct rival, so his time with us will always be tainted imo. 

Still we got his best years, and we also got the best left back in premier league history. 

Beating arsenal on all fronts since 2005!