Arsenal Special: Gallas' Glorious Moment Overshadowed By Controversy

It had to be that way in the end, didn't it?

For 20 years, it had always been William who was the naughty, unruly member of the class and Thierry who was the golden boy, scoring goals and receiving adulation.

But, after 104 minutes of Wednesday night's World Cup qualifying European play-offs second leg at the Stade de France, against luckless Ireland, the old story switched the other way.

Trailing by a goal, and desperately needing an equaliser on the night to secure their passage to South Africa, the two combined again to contrive one of the most controversial goals in modern World Cup history.

Thierry Henry's handball, indeed double handball, which condemned him to invective and shame, was followed by William Gallas's moment of glory, Gallic glory that is, as his intuition took him into position to bundle the ball over the line.

It was as if all those years of playing together as kids at Clairefontaine, where they were classmates at the French academy of football, and later in the national age-group teams all the way to the senior team, had conspired to join them in a moment of spectacular, if cynical, football union.

But hasn't it always been that way for William Gallas?

Enigmatic, unruly, misunderstood, unpredictable and yet vulnerable, he has stood out for years as a player of huge potential, great courage and defensive skill with a rare ability to decide vital games with dramatic goals.

And has he not also always appeared to take up postures of rebellion? And make provocative decisions? And always attract controversy in the smallest ways?

As a player, there is little doubt that Gallas is a great defender - one of the finest in a line of great defenders who have played for France. He holds his place proudly in a modern line that has included Marcel Desailly, Laurent Blanc and Lillian Thuram.

Forward march | Gallas is a reliable source of goals

Yet he has had to wait patiently in England to prove his greatest worth at club level after a vexed spell at Chelsea where he was for so long played at left-back. Only since establishing himself at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, and finding consistent form without wearing the captain's armband, has the true magnificence of his talent flourished.

Typically, of course, Gallas's club career has been plagued by moments of madness - his rows with Chelsea, requests for transfers and then his one-man protest at Birmingham City when playing for Arsenal two seasons ago - and graced by sublime strikes on goal.

Only he could have chosen to wear the No.13 shirt at Chelsea when he joined from Marseille in 2001 and then, on joining Arsenal, succeed Dennis Bergkamp as No.10. His pride and individuality have always been apparent - 13 was his post-code in Marseille and he was fearless in wearing an inside-forward's number in the centre of defence.

But his goals always have been notable and often memorable. When Wayne Bridge was injured in the 2004-05 season, he turned in a series of aggressive, striking performances at left-back as Jose Mourinho's team swept to the first of their back-to-back championship successes. In the following season, he scored vital goals against Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester United, describing his superb long-range drive against Spurs his "greatest ever" goal.

When he joined Arsenal, the goals continued, but perhaps the most special was his winner in a 1-0 victory over Chelsea in December, 2007; that is until this season when he opened the campaign with three in three games against Everton, Celtic and Portsmouth. It was as if he, and his team, were making a statement of intent.

In his partnership with Thomas Vermaelen, Gallas has found a natural ally. Both are strong, decisive and dangerous and the pairing is balanced. Both also score goals and it is certain that a confrontation with the 'Verminator' and the 'Heartbreaker' is not one that opposition forwards relish.

For William, maturity has brought some peace while his settled place in the Arsenal team has ensured consistency. He is arguably playing the best football of his career and has proved beyond argument now that he remains a defender with a nose for goals - particularly if his old friend and former Arsenal legend Thierry is handling the supply.

Indeed, are there any better central defenders in the Premier League? No. At 32, William Gallas is in his pomp and, despite the furore over Henry's part in his goal in Paris, he will be a powerful presence at the World Cup finals - and probably break a few more hearts.