Whilst there’s plenty of talk about how Arsenal have been doing in pre-season and especially so after the good performance from the stars last night against Chivas, we are never too far away before the transfer rumour mill gets going yet again. There’s been a lot of focus on Lacazette, Mahrez and Mustafi over the last few days and although Arsenal fans would love to see all three join the club, sadly I cannot see that being the case.
There is however some news developing on the outgoing front of Arsenal football club, with the media today reporting that Arsenal have turned down an approach from fellow Londoners West Ham United for Kieran Gibbs. West Ham, who have taken Carl Jenkinson on loan from Arsenal for the past two seasons seem to have been unsuccessful for trying to secure yet another potential deal for the English right back, so have instead turned their interest towards another one of Arsenal’s men in defence, this time Kieran Gibbs.
West Ham have lost their first choice left back Aaron Cresswell due to injury and it’s been reported the Englishman will be out for the first four months of the Premier League season. It has prompted West Ham to be on the lookout for cover and one player that has obviously interested them is Kieran Gibbs. Gibbs of course is relatively out of favour at Arsenal at the moment due to Monreal’s exceptional performances over the past two years. Gibbs was Arsenal’s first choice left back after the sale of Gael Clichy to Manchester City and he held the spot for a number of years. In fact Gibbs remained as the club’s first choice left back even after Monreal’s arrival at the club, but once the Spaniard got a run of games in the first team, his consistency, confidence and ability have meant that he’s never looked back and been displaced by Arsenal’s number three.
Gibbs was rumoured to be considering his future at the club this summer given his fall in first team opportunities, however there has been little developments on that as of yet. Monreal surely has a few more seasons at the summit of Arsenal football club, so Gibbs may be waiting in the wings for a little while longer if he doesn’t decide to move on. If Arsenal had another known left back behind Gibbs in the pecking order, then it may have been a good move to send Gibbs out on a season long loan to West Ham. However given the uncertainty surrounding the defence and the inevitable injures that are sure to occur of the course of the season, I don’t think it would be entirely wise to send Gibbo out on loan.
But, then again, Gibbs was limited to only three Premier League starts last term, due to the impressive consistency shown by Nacho Monreal in his favoured left-back role, and was expected to push to leave in search of regular action, which he is extremely unlikely to be getting with us.
Should we let him leave to gain regular football?
AH