Arsenal fans have been crying out for a stronger Arsenal squad as well as more quality in the first team for years and this season, despite the fact that Arsene Wenger has still been forced to deal with a constant and lengthy injury list, the Gunners do seem to be in a batter situation.
In most of the positions in the team there is good competition for a place in the starting line-up and nowhere is that more true at the minute than at left back. While at the start of the season it was looking as if our academy product and England international Kieran Gibbs had pretty much nailed down his place, all that has changed recently.
It has been Gibbs that has had to cool his heels on the bench while Nacho Monreal put in performances of quality and consistency but after the way he played today, Gibbs will surely be hoping that he has changed the manager’s mind again.
It is great for Arsenal to have two top players fighting for the position but which is better? I think that in this case it can be something like the way Wenger was using Arteta and Flamini, with each more suited to certain games and certain opponents.
There is little doubt that Gibbs is the more attack minded of the two. His pace, crossing and link up play is a great asset for the Arsenal attack but he can be caught out of position and has not got the defensive discilpine that comes with age and experience.
Monreal has now proved himself to be ultra reliable and still gets forward himself, although not as much. So is there a case for Wenger to play each left back in the games most suited to their abilities? And which, if any, do you think has the edge?