Kerrea Gilbert Ruins Banfield’s Plans?

Cast your minds back to the 8th of January 2006, Arsenal played Cardiff City in the F.A Cup, Arsenal were having bad injury problems, and a young defender called Kerrea Gilbert started the match. A tough tackling, pacy, strong right back who would later go on to play left back during a mass injury problem.

He would then feature in the next 6 games. Premiership football came in 1-0 defeat to Everton, and soon Gilbert’s name was on everybody’s lips.Many talked about him being the man to replace Lauren and many said he would be better than Justin Hoyte. The ultimate high for the Hammersmith born England Youth international came in the second leg of the Carling Cup Semi-Final against Wigan; his cross was headed in by skipper Thierry Henry. Henry mobbed Kerrea and a star was born.. or so we thought.

Gilbert was injured in Arsenal’s 3-2 home defeat to West Ham United in February of 2006. He was ruled out for two months, ending his run in the team.

In July Arsenal announced he would spend the season gaining experience with promotion chasing Cardiff City, a chance to prove his worth…

But Kerrea has had issues at both his loan clubs. Injuries and then a mystery problem frustrated Cardiff boss Dave Jones, and he decided against signing him in the summer. At his most recent club. Southend, he fell out with the Reserves coach, and sat out the rest of his loan spell, from either the stands or the bench.

It seems like many of the youngsters who have come through the system at the club Kerrea’s attitude has got the better of him.

Banfield had been playing Abu Ogogo at right full back, but since Gilbert’s return to Arsenal in January 2008, Abu has been pushed to right midfield for the Reserves game with Fulham; a match Gilbert started and failed to impress.

Kerrea signed a new deal before he left for Cardiff and still has 2 years left on the Pro deal, so Banfield has to play him ahead of the Scholar’s. With one of either Ogogo, James Dunne, Mark Randall or Henri Lansbury missing out.

Gilbert couldn’t play in Arsenal’s Youth Cup game against Burnley so Ogogo returned to Right back and the three midfielders mentioned above all started and shone. Randall ran the show, and scored, Lansbury hit a hattrick, So Obviously Arsenal’s Reserves don’t need Kerrea’s experience.

Rumor has it Gilbert (20) has been offered around Championship and League 1 clubs, and is prepared to take a wage cut to finally play regular first team football.

Neil confirmed Kerrea could be on his way out after the Fulham Reserve game.

“Sometimes going out on loan works out and it can be successful. Kerrea though has had the other side of it. He has come back here, settled straight down to business and is looking to get his career going again with somebody hopefully taking him out on loan again. What happens with him now is up to Kerrea. He has been in the first-team and proved exactly what he can do at that level. He needs to get his head down, work hard and go from there.”