I am sure that the Arsenal and England international left back Kieran Gibbs would have been a bit disappointed that he was not given the chance to build on his good performance during his fourth international cap for England against San Marino the other day.
In the cold light of day, however, I think the 25-year old should return to north London feeling pretty good about himself. After all, he did nothing wrong and should have confirmed to the England boss Roy Hodgson that he is a very capable alternative to the current England first choice Leighton Baines.
In fact, once again the Everton man failed to replicate his club form in the three lions’ shirt. And with England already having one foot in the Euro 2016 championships already and some very winnable games still to play, Gibbs should get more chances to shine in the next year or so.
Gibbs said,
“My time hasn’t come, even still. I still have loads of work to do. I am just relishing the challenge and opportunity.
“In football it happens sometimes when you have a lot of quality in one position. You have to be on top of your game all the time to be in with a shout of the national team, so that is what I have to do for the rest of the season.”
And that is good news for Arsenal as well, because the 25-year has all the encouragement he needs to know that keeping up his good form at club level is all he needs to do to have a chance of becoming a regular for Hodgson alongside his Arsenal team mates Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck, Calum Chambers and the Ox, not to mention Theo Walcott when he is back to full fitness.
So come on Kieran, kick on and you will get your rewards….