Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says a photo of club captain William Gallas leaving a nightclub with a cigarette in his mouth is unacceptable.

And while Wenger confirmed he will speak with the 31-year-old defender on the matter he insists he is the right choice to lead the Gunners.

"I will check that with him. He has a responsibility as captain of Arsenal and that cannot be accepted," he said.

"William has his critics but what you can never fault him is the motivation."

The Arsenal boss, speaking ahead of Sunday's Premier League visit to Upton Park to face West Ham, added that despite the photograph, Gallas has responded well to criticism stemming from last season.

The pictures showed Gallas leaving a London nightclub in the early hours of 25 October, but newspapers said the cigarette was unlit.

"I didn't see the picture. I have been informed, but I don't like that," added Wenger.

"It is a public job with a public responsibility and therefore it is exactly the same for everybody."