Arsenal fans always enjoy seeing youngsters who have come through the system ply their trade for the first team, and they’re always on the look out for the star who could finally ‘make it’. Kieran Gibbs is one player who has profited from the Youth setup, and in Gael Clichy’s absence, he’s had a decent run in the team. So in today’s culture of chopping and changing players, can we add Gibbs’ name to those who have developed into a first team player?
Six consecutive starts for Arsene Wenger’s side have brought some notable performances and moments. Clearing efforts off the line against Wigan, Chelsea and Liverpool flung Kieran into the spotlight. He also added an assist in the Cup Semi-Final against the Blues, and capped it off an amazing couple of weeks by marking Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League Semi-Final.
He should continue that left back role as the Gunners make the trip to Portsmouth tomorrow. It could be Gibbs’ last Premiership game as Clichy nears full fitness, but the impression made in the latter stages of the campaign will leave Wenger assured about the quality of his options in that position.
But back to the main question, has Kieran now ‘made it’? would you consider him now to be a first-team player? and do you trust him in the side? your comments are welcome.
Article By – J.Sanderson
what is this ?
He needs to play regularly and i doubt he will get it at left back. Any news on Wellington
Kierans performances have cast a doubt on Traores Arsenal career.
Good article, great insight, learned some new stuff, good way of spending my two minutes.
To “buzzword” no need to be so rude. You can see Gibbs in action for yourself what “insight” do you need?
I think Gibbs has done really well and even when Clichy got injured I was more than confident that Gibbs would do a good job. He has to watch his back passing to keepers though, he leaves it a bit short. He is a good attacking wing back and will get better in his defensive duties in my opinion.
May be a bit too early to say, but he has convinced me. In my view, Clichy is fast and a very good defender – but rubbish going forward. Gibbs´ got what Clichy misses (and will never get). To become our first choice left back, Gibbs must improve a bit more defencivly. And that´s mostly down to playing games.
Buzzword-
how’s your blog doing? I’m guessing you don’t have one. immature twat. fuck off.
yes, yes and yes
Any player who trusted enough to start two semi finals against two of the best teams in the world has probably made it. I was both delighted and disappointed that Gibbs was our best player against Chelsea; delighted for him, disappointed that the others were so poor. He did really well against Ronaldo and this can be shown by the fact Man U switched it up in the second half so Rooney was against him. It seems to me he has the talent and the personality to be a great left back and a fans favourite at Arsenal. Funny how we seem to produce great left backs.
What do you mean “FINALLY” mate?
He is only 19?
Gibbs has had opportunities trusted upon him and he’s grabbed it with both hands. He’ll be a great player for us and perhaps any ‘Adams’ in the making.
Arsene won’t drop Gibbs now entirely. He sees him as very promising and intelligent. Gibbs is growing in bounds. He’ll play against MANU in the return match and I foresee Arsene playing him on the left mid with Clichy at the LB and move Nasri inside.
Gibbs will go out on loan next season. Traore will ocome back as no 2 to Clichy, although u never know maybe 1 might leave. Gibbs has definitely made it at Arsenal.
I like Gibbs a lot; good athlete and a sweet left foot on him, I think the fact he was a former centre mid shines through when he knocks the ball about. His positioning is a little raw but that will improve. Whether he will make at Arsenal or elsewhere is up to him but he will definately be a decent premiership player.
Saying that I don`t think he is the best of the youngsters right now he just got a good slice of luck with whats happened this year. Much more exited about Wilshere who I think will be world class. Lansbury and Frimpong are also two excellent prospects.
I agree with Frichie, a full season of playing premier league football out on loan will do him the world of good. If he can prove himself over the course of a full year he could well take the first team spot in the 2010-11 season
We saw Traore get games against MANU, FA Semi-final, against Chelsea in CC and Serville in CL playing at LB.
In all these games he was crap. No intelligence, he just ran and ran until he lost the ball. Both Ronaldo and Lennon roasted him. Daniel Alves destroyed him at Serville.
Traore can’t play LB because he hasn’t got the intelligence. Arsene wants to develop him at LM but with the availability of Nasri, Arshavin, Vela and even Rosicky, I don’t see his chances anymore. He might continue his loan spell or end up being sold.
He was a false dawn when he arrived.
I dont think he needs a loan and i think he is already better than traore. sometimes loan spells can hinder progress. wenger would lose control of his development.
Kieran gibbs is a CM thats where he will play in the future. Hes said that in an interview. He kind of reminds of jermaine jenas tall fast but has better technique
JS hope ur well mate your website is brilliant hope u back soon
J nice to see the site back – where has it been for the last week or more, you’ve missed alot of games in that time
Agree with gazzap I don’t think he needs to go out on loan eaither. It’s a bit hit-or-miss Traore Nortveidt and Simpsons loan spells haven’t really been great for them. If he’s holding his own in the first team, and he hasn’t done too badly, keep him at the club so he can learn from and compete against top quality players.
J = good to have you back with us Sir :)
Good article, the game he had against Ronaldo was first class,
If he can get a few games together like thsi next season, getting more games under his belt, he can shine here at the Arsenal (Y).
Gibbs has definately made it the only unfortunate thing is he has been play in a very tinkered and unbalanced team but still he stood out, he has a better game reading,passing and cross of the ball than clichy who nowadays is so prone to costly errors. Don’t take Gibbs on loan we will need him like we need Senderos and not Silvestre.
Personally I’ve been very impressed with Gibb’s attitude and the way he has performed over the last few weeks. I still feel he needs to get tighter to his opponent and that is undoubedly down to inexperience. He seems to have all of clichy’s positives + a bit more height and a much more attacking prowess (it is evident he was a LW). I think he has “made it” in the first team. But I think the question is WHEN he will make first choice and not IF.
Made it would a wrong choice of words, i certainly trust to do a good irrespective of who he is facing.
@ JS, any scores from opening atalanta cup
seems a bit unstable at times but im sure that wont be a problem in the future.
J, Good to see you back. Hope everything is OK. Was surprised you didn’t do a write-up of the Youth Cup semi.
As for Gibbs, I think Clichy now has to up his game to make sure he remains as first choice left back. Gibbs will be an England regular in a couple of years.
BTW, I hope Wilshire gets back on form. He seems to have gone backwards in the last few months.
I dont think he is ready just yet, but his time will come :D
A very talented young man and his progression to a regular place, remembering that he’s only 19, is probably “ahead of plan”. I think:
– His future is as an attacking left sided mid-fielder
– He’ll sore a lot of goals from that position
– His crossing is a mile better than Clichy
– He needs to learn to get a bit tighter to speedier players
– He’s a SUPERB substitute for Clichy.
– If Clichy was to leave next year, I’d have no hesitation in starting him at LB
– Traore too is still learning. Future – I think left sided attacker. Not left back
After Kieran gibbs the next englishman to break through will be Henri Lansbury. Hes a world class talent and hes gone to scunthorpe to toughen up and now he looks more powerful, stronger, faster and taller. Hes going to be sensational. just got a feeling wenger going to try and convert lansbury as RB or RW like kieran gibbs
I’d love to see Lansbury as a first choice CM with Ramsey in next years CC. I don’t think Randall will cut it here. I think Lansbury has to really take advantage of any chances he gets as Coquelin looks a real prospect.
Howard, Cronaldo did not play in that FA Cup match last year… I think it was Park on that side… and Traore got destroyed… we moved him to Left mid soon after
Lansbury needs to recover from is knee injury first… but he is a huge talent
I used to play with Kieran back in the old wimbledon days and im really happy for him, always been a talent and had a good head on his shoulders but looks to have got his head down and realised what he has the chance to do at Arsenal! Keep it goin fella, next stop England!
Gibbs should have the quality to be a defensive midfielder. Remember how Flamini got the the DM position? He was slotted to the left & right full backs and then finally to the DM position. It gave him the understanding of how full backs works and when supposrt is needed. He really have to thank Wenger for his development. Gibbs definitely has the ability to be better than Flamini in that position.
he has definately made it, the champions league semi-final was the tipping point for me, he marked ronaldo and rooney very very well.
gibbs has got the potential but i think clichy is too good to dethrone his postion as arsenal’s first choice left back as he is a creative force and good defensively
Right now Gibbs is goin in the right direction. But he needs to be played more and more games in the future. And 1 of his weakness is that he tends to move to the centre while defending, exposing the left wing a bit too much..
As for Traore i dont think he’ll make it at Arsenal as either LW or LB.. He has got only speed.. At LW Fran Merida is ahead of him and 4 first team players.. Gibbs has made the no.2 LB spot his own, so no chance there either..
Traore will go out on loan for 1 more season, and then sold!!
Yup he is good . In fact in the united game Ronaldo had to change sides(pity Wenger didn’t move Walcott to the other side ,ha well)… he is good at attacking and seems to come back quickly as well..But Clichy is also good..so lets hope they both get games..
I dont think Arsene will convert Lansbury into an RB.. Henri is a gerrard type of player who scores a lot from midfield.. Over the last year he has devoloped a good physique too.. Would love to see Henri and Ramsey play together in midfield for next CC…
Aaron ramsey and Henri Lansbury is a mouth watering midfield partnership. If they can both develop thier defensive sides we have got two special players. They will overtake song, diaby, denilson. Both could be captains for thier countries in the near future
still a long way to go for the young lad. hope he can keep improving. gibbsie is much better than gael when it comes to putting crosses into the box. wounder how traore would fit in to things next season.
He’s probably never even been to Old Trafford before so to play a CL Semi against Ronaldo who has roasted a few full-backs(amongst others) in his time,and come out well shows he has the makings of a top player.Needs to be tighter on the faster, skillful players, in the big games but overall I’m very impressed.
Do my eyes deceive me or did I see him chase a ball towards the 6 yd box, being the furthest forward?
Good speed and control, doesn’t get overcome by the occasion and I like the cutting inside and meandering to the box where he should start having a pop at goal.
Will only get better. No loan please.Lansbury needed it, now lets see him in red & white,then both in England whites
Gibbs is a greatbtalent. cannot for the life of me see why anyone would want him played as a left winger of central midfielder??? WTF??? No chance! He will be Englands LB sooner rather than later.
As for Lansbury… he is a top talent and hope he gets his chance next season.
he need to be more aggrasive on defensive and make more run and try shoot from out penalty box..
I think he should be considered a first teamer and was wondering how long his contract has to run
just away from the gibbs debate i dnt think lansburys is good enough to make it as i have seen him play in the reserves and he was shocking on many occasions and there are many better players than him such as coquelin and frimpong
Just chipping in with my two cents on Lansbury – I honestly cannot see Wenger buying a DM this Summer as I think the Boss will attempt to slot Henri into that position as often as he can. Possibly he will rotate Henri with Song, Diaby, Denilson etc one or two of whom I expect will be sold in the next season or two depending on how Lansbury and Ramsey develop.
gibbs is a major talent. remember at old trafford, he was not given any protection by diaby. he did brilliantly against ronaldo and ronaldo had to switch flanks because he was not having any luck. also gibbs nutmegs him once and that was bloody brilliant. i think clichy will be our left back and gibbs our left winger: he has a great cross and a very good engine and can replace clichy when injured. something like what zhirkov does for russia: lb for russia, left midfield for cska moscow.
He’s actually been better than Clichy has for the entire season in these last 6 games or so. Obviously he has some defensive flaws but his passing and particularly his crossing are much better than Clichy. I’m always amazed how he never gives the ball away even when under quite a lot of pressure and manages to pick out an Arsenal player even when cornered by two or more opposition players.
And it’s great to see that he can cross, something that we as a team have been horrible at for some time now. Furthermore he has a good shot on him as well, yet another advantage of playing further forward during his career so far. I love it when defensive players come through because we don’t see enough of them here at Arsenal (at least in comparison to how many midfielders we have coming through).
If I were Arsene Wenger I’d be tempted to leave him in there for the rest of the season even if Clichy were to return.
Pingback: Top Posts « WordPress.com
Great prospect for both England and Arsenal. Seems to be no worse than Clichy from what i have seen.
Gibbs has already made it. He is now considered as a member of the first team. He will alternate with Clichy for the role of Left Back. It is part of the plan to have two players for every position.
Arsenal did try to convert Lansbury to a right back or right sided midfield player. Right back is one of position in which Arsenal Reserve have no outstanding prospect.
I do not think that Henry Lansbury could make it as central midfield player. He is neither a destructive defensive player a la Coquelin or Frimpong and IMHO not good enough to play the Fabregas role (Merida, Bischoff are ahead of him for that role).
I’ve been really impressed with Gibbs since he arrived in the absence of Clichy and he will only get better hes got a lot to learn and some maturing to do but will improve my only problem is on like clichy when Gibbs goes forward he dosen’t bust a gut to get back plus some of his marking needs to be tighter
gibbs has r.impressed me.he just seems so unfazed by playing for the 1st team.this is a repeat of sylvinhio & ashley cole scenario.regarding nxt season i think a lot of wenger’s buying will depend on how he assess the kids.just a question-why is lansbury playing for such a low level team?couldn’t he go on loan to a premership/championship side?
Hi, nice post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for sharing. I will definitely be coming back to your site.
I wasn’t fazed when Cole left because i knew Clichy was better (in talent & attitude). Having had a prolonged look at Gibbs, i think he could oust Clichy as first choice sooner rather than later. I hope he doesn’t go on loan next season, he is beyond that. Sammy made a good point – has he been tied to a long term contract? If not, i hope he will be in the summer.
& BTW, Traore should be sold if we can get a decent price for him…
I agree with what welldone said about the dm like flamini did, however everyone seems to forget we have seen this all before in gilbert when he came and everyone loved him and he played ace he could have been summit, but we ruined him. Gibbs is a good player and wenger needs to decide where he is going to play him so that he knows his future. However wenger has knocked him back abit, after the slip agaist man u in the semis wenger took him off at half time. Even i nervouse gibbs is 100 times better then eboue at his best. I just dont want to see gibbs ruined like alot of good players ive seen. Justin Hoyte, Ryan Garry,Gilbert,Traore, Aladiare,Pennant i dont want him to join the rest of these guys.