Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs is considering pushing his club to allow him to leave.
The left-back has lost his battle with Nacho Monreal for a first-team role under Arsene Wenger, and having picked up less than 400 match minutes in the league last term, is heavily considering his future.
Gibbs is yet to start a single game for the club this season either, and after having been claimed to be willing to run down the two years remaining on his contract, he is now said to be looking to push through an exit, unless there is a rapid rise in first-team action.
The 26 year-old was no doubt denied a chance to make the England squad for the European Championship this summer by a lack of football, and having been in-and-out of the international squad over the years, he will certainly want to nail down a place over the next two years.
Gibbs has been with the club since leaving Wimbledon at 15 upon their reshaping into MK Dons, and has only spent half a season out on loan with Norwich City in 2008.
The defender has picked up over 100 appearances in the league for the Gunners, but it appears his time has come to leave the club in order to further his career.
He was one of the players I had expected to leave the club this summer, with Arsenal linked with potential replacements in Celtic’s Keiran Tierney, Leicester’s Ben Chilwell and Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon.
The latter made his first-team debut last month, and at 16, could well be the long-term future replacement for Monreal, who is now 30. Sessegnon has been strongly linked with a number of clubs however, and there will likely be a number of teams vying for his signature in the coming transfer windows.
Is there any future for Gibbs at Arsenal? Should we sign Celtic’s Tierey, or one of the less experienced Sessegnon or Chilwell?
Wenger used to rotate them a bit last season I think. I hope Gibbs gets some games. Monreal isn’t going to play the whole 40+ games we’ll be playing this season is he?
I have a feeling Gibbs will move to Liverpool it just makes too much sense for him and them.. However I hope he doesn’t.. Nacho is knocking on a bit now and Kieran is Arsenal through and through but it would be harsh to ask him to spend his best years playing understudy when he could get games elsewhere.. Hope he stays though.
Losing gibbs is disastrous, I think most of us forget when we lacked good full backs and now we take full back position for granted. Look at our rivals who are desperate to land a decent fullback.
Take note of Barcelona, at left back, they have Jordin Alba, Adriano and Digne. That is 3 quality experienced players.
Im sure Arsenal knows this, especially knowing that Arsenal have 5 quality central midfielder in the team. But then again, at the moment, losing gibbs, debuchy and Jenkinson is a big NO.
I kindof got the impression Rodriquez was a target initially..
But the Vardy deal fell through which was a bargain price for the position we would have filled and then our CB’s started dropping which I personally think forced our hand in the market a bit.
Can’t really complain at all as we’ve ended up with what I believe will be a top CB, but all those initial rumors can’t help but lead me to believe we aren’t 100% happy with our options at LB, be it Monreal getting on a bit or not trusting Gibbs as a first XI player.
Tafari Moore being called up for the England squad is very interesting though… Haven’t really followed him at all TBH.
Even if Gibbs will eventually leave,he will at least finish this season with us so there is no need to discuss his exit so early in the season….
He will surely get games,as there are so many matches to be played,but sometimes,his injuries also affect him whenever he gets play time,don’t forget Monreal ousted him when he got injured.
Gibbs can’t play 15 matches without having a knock,but I think he will stay as this is just a BS rumour…
Gibb’s has been a good servant to the club and though not always the most reliable we have never had cause to doubt his effort for the cause. If its time for him to leave then i wish him well for the future where ever he may end up going to. On his replacement, Arsenal should find someone experienced and ready to take over from Monreal who is reaching the latter stage of his career so as to not upset the balance of the team to much, yes there are some younger players out there to replace Gibb’s but none good enough for the first team. Luke Shaw at Man Utd won’t be leaving, John Stones Man City won’t be leaving. This leaves Arsenal looking at Southampton’s Clyne or else looking abroad for a cheaper option. Clyne would be my choice as he has premier league experience and is the right age to take over when Monreal decides to move on or call it a day and retire. All other youngsters could then be considered for back up.
I agree about Gibbs. But the last I heard, Clyne was playing for Liverpool predominantly as a right back. He even started against us in the first match of this season. So that is another option ruled out, eh?
to be honest i wouldn,t mind if he stayed with us as he is a decent back up but if he wants to leave us let,s sell him and invest the money in a better&younger left back!!
He’s British, homegrown, reliable when fit, was cheap to buy, probably on relatively low wages. I’m sure we will offer better wages to entice him to stay, so, unless there’s somebody ready in the academy, He’s going nowhere.
And a scorer of important goals, like he did at RSC Anderlect and against spuds.