Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed William Gallas was the focus of a "witch-hunt" after the defender was stripped of the club captaincy last week.

The center-half was axed as Gunners captain following his outburst to French journalists when he targeted his team-mates.

However, Wenger complimented Gallas after Arsenal's 1-0 win over Dynamo Kiev and blamed external factors for his former skipper's downfall.

"It was based neither on the man himself nor his quality as a player but more on his blunder," Wenger reportedly told French television station Canal+, for whom he works on a part-time basis as a pundit.

"It was a witch-hunt and everything that he did, even when it was good, was bad.

"In these conditions, the player had no chance. He didn't intend to be malicious but it put his team under enormous pressure. He will remain himself and it can free him as a player if there is less pressure."