So far during the current campaign the Arsenal left back role on the first team has mainly belonged to the Spaniard Nacho Monreal. He has started 19 of the 20 Premier League games, coming on as a sub in the other, and four of the six Champions League games.
That must have been frustrating for the England international Kieran Gibbs, especially as he has played well when given a chance and done nothing wrong. With the Euro 2016 championships just a few months away Gibbs knows that he needs to play more to have a real chance of getting into Roy Hodgson’s team but things could be looking up for the defender.
In the press conference reported by the Arsenal website yesterday Arsene Wenger spoke about the two left backs and suggested that Gibbs could be set for many more starts in the second half of the season. The boss is clearly delighted to have two players fighting for the position and playing well when he picks them.
He said, “The regularity of his [Monreal’s] performances, the fact that he has improved every year since he arrived. He is not necessarily my first-choice left back. At the moment he plays more than Kieran Gibbs but I think I’m a bit spoilt there because Gibbs has come back and has shown again on Saturday [that he plays] at a very, very strong level. That makes my decisions at that level very difficult but overall Nacho Monreal has been absolutely outstanding.”
There have been quite few Arsenal transfer rumours over the last year or so that have linked the Spaniard with a return to La Liga but last week we heard the news that he was set to sign a new contract with the Gunners. Could those contract talks have been the reason why the boss kept picking Monreal over Gibbs? And now the deal is done will see a lot more of Gibbs?
I love gibbs as he is a true gunner but simply monreal is the better player.
So don’t rest monreal unless he needs rest or if he is injured.
At the moment i believe Monreal is better
I am happy with Gibbs starting against Burnley but unless Monreal is injured or tired, Monreal should start PL and CL matches
But its great to have Gibbs come off the bench
No mention of the two youngsters we just signed? U17 Fifa player of the tournament? Damn our youth squad is literally bursting at the seems with talent at the moment!
truly speaking gibby lacks confidence somewhere,somehow,at this level,there should be no room for mistakes,total concerntration and consistency ,macho has got a total package,how do u see it gunners.
It’s a shame because Gibbs issue use to be that he would get a run of games, performed excellently throughout, even earning him international call ups, but would suffer an injury setback, and would then need to work back to full fitness before we see what we know he’s capable off. Problem now is that he’s fit as a fiddle, but as it stands Monreal is performing extremely well and consistently. At the moment Monreal is first choice and deservedly so. Gibbs is just as good, and potentially better long term. He should just continue working hard, fight for his place and perform solidly when called upon. Do that and his time will come again.
man you,re reading too much into it!!the only reason nacho is playing is because he,s been the better player,as simple as that!!gibbs has been performing well when called upon and the reason might be because of the competition from nacho!!also since montreal when gibbs got injured he was given plenty of time to heal properly and not being rushed that,s why i think his injury record has got better with time,like wenger said we are lucky to have them both and kieran is an important squad player due to his versatility and will have a big part to play in the 2nd part of the season,also he is still young and will continue to improve learning from montreal and in the not too distant future he will be our first choice for many years to come,all he needs to do is to keep at it and be patient his time will come!!
*by man i mean the author of this article!!