Jens Lehmann blames William Gallas for abandoning Arsenal in infamous 2008 draw at Birmingham where defender sat on the pitch 'like a sulky child' which led to collapsed title bid

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Jens Lehmann has admitted Arsenal players were furious with William Gallas after his infamous public tantrum at Birmingham City where the club dropped vital points in a 2-2 draw.

Having led 2-1 late on, the Gunners conceded a last minute penalty which was converted by James McFadden and led to Gallas kicking advertising hoardings as well as bizarrely sitting down on his own in the centre-circle.

It became the symbol of Arsenal's collapse while battling for the Premier League title in the 2007-08 season.

William Gallas infamously sat in the centre-circle after Arsenal dropped points at Birmingham

Arsene Wenger leads his captain off the pitch following the 2-2 draw in 2008

Arsenal striker Eduardo had his leg broken at the start of the game in the draw at Birmingham

James McFadden scored twice on an afternoon Arsenal's title bid started to collapse

Having led the table by five points following 26 games heading into the St Andrews' clash, Gallas's tantrum was followed by a poor run of form which led to Arsene Wenger's side finishing third and missing out on the Premier League crown to Manchester United by four points.

'The game [against Birmingham] was fateful,' Lehmann states in his autobiography being serialised in the Daily Telegraph.

'We were leading 2-1 shortly before the end when Gael Clichy was late for a ball while in his own area - time for a penalty and time for captain Gallas to spring into action.

'Instead of standing at the edge of the area and clearing a possibly parried penalty, he abandoned the team, ran towards the halfway line and, in anger, kicked an advertising hoarding.

'After the match, he refused to leave the pitch and sat down in the centre circle like a sulky child. In the dressing room Gallas came to blows with Gilberto SIlva, who accused him of seeking attention in a daft manner - the row dragged on for the remainder of the season.'

Gilberto Silva (centre) was left furious with Gallas following his post-match tantrum

Jens Lehmann states Gallas's appointment as captain did not go down well with team-mates

The former Arsenal goalkeeper, who was a member of the club's 'Invincibles' from the unbeaten 2003-04 campaign, also revealed that Gallas was an unpopular choice for club captain.

'Having Gallas head the team in 2007-08 was problematic. We had learnt of his appointment in the papers and we all shook our heads.

'The previous season he had repeatedly turned up very late for training or had left the training  ground without permission. With the promotion Arsene Wenger apparently wanted to appeal to Gallas's sense of responsibility.'