Former Tottenham player explains what happened over on-pitch argument with Arsenal man

 

When Tottenham welcomed Arsenal to White Hart Lane for the 2007 derby, William Gallas and Nicklas Bendtner were both playing for Arsenal.

Gallas would later go on to represent Tottenham as well, his third London club, but on that day he was very much an Arsenal man.

One image from the match received an awful lot of attention, Gallas and his Arsenal teammate Bendtner appeared to square up, with the striker screaming into the defender’s face, and it all looking less than friendly.

Given that he’s played for both Arsenal and Tottenham, and is French, L’Equipe have spoken to Gallas ahead of this weekend’s derby.

The French newspaper asked him about the photograph of the altercation, and he was pleased to have an opportunity to finally put things right, after almost 10 years.

Gallas explained that it was an Arsenal on Arsenal argument, but between Bendtner and Emmanuel Adebayor: “It’s good that you asked me that question, that way you will be able to make things right (smiles). Indeed, we found on the Internet an image that gives the impression that we are fighting.

“But that’s not what happened. Bendtner fought with Adebayor, and I was the separator!”

Adebayor also went on to play for Tottenham Hotspur, whilst Bendtner continued being Bendtner and is currently at Nottingham Forest.