The Kieran Gibbs Thread

[LDB]

Seems to me Gibbs is not getting the praise he deserves. Been by far one of our most consistent performers this season. Credit to the lad and, yes, his manager because a couple of years ago I doubted his defending would develop enough to make it here.

One of the all-too-rare coaching success stories at Arsenal these days. If he can keep improving and avoid complacency I think he could become one of the best left backs in world football.

[northbank123]

Steady on there fella. He's done well this year and has proved many (myself included) very wrong. But I wouldn't go as far as to say he could be one of the world's best.

It's hard really to assess any of our defenders in our current set-up, it's not fair. Mertesacker might be slow and very poor in the air for his height but the bloke has 80+ caps for Germany, he's much better than he was able to show certainly in his first season because our team was all over the shop.

Plus you're never gonna be one of the world's best if you spend half your life on the treatment table.

[QuartzGooner]

Good player, but so often injured.

Would like to see Baines bought, and Gibbs used as second choice, and also left midfield at times, where he started his career so promisingly.
But it is very unlikely to happen.

[slevinlacey]

injury prone, offers nothing going forward, defensively still very suspect. As one footed as Nigel Winterburn.

Due to the injury proneness, would say offload him now, buy Baines or someone with quality and give Meade a go as back up. Looks tidy on the ball.

[QuartzGooner]

Watching Meade the other night, I thought "Promise, but does not look ready".
I think he needs more strength.

[Herd]

Yes he has gone from Awful through Bad Mediocre and now through to his Zenith which is Average PL Player !

[STLgooner89]

It was so obvious how bad Gibbs was missed when Santos was in for a few games and then Vermaelan.

I don't know how anyone can say he doesn't offer anything going forward? It's hard for his crosses to find someone when we only have one forward or one player in the box usually. He also put two in the net against Southampton and scored a similar goal last spring against villa. That's more goals than I remember fuggin Clichy scoring. The most important aspect of his game is that he stays wide and overlaps players, always giving them an outlet.

But yeah, while he is good enough, bringing in an older and more experienced lb wouldn't be bad since rotation could prevent possible injuries for him.

[arseofacrow]

Yes he has gone from Awful through Bad Mediocre and now through to his Zenith which is Average PL Player !

I would agree with Singapore's finest here. They guy is ok. It's a relief to have him in the side instead of Santos but I think he still has a long way to go. Needs to improve all areas of his game. Hope he does.

[LDB]

Steady on there fella. He's done well this year and has proved many (myself included) very wrong. But I wouldn't go as far as to say he could be one of the world's best.

It's hard really to assess any of our defenders in our current set-up, it's not fair. Mertesacker might be slow and very poor in the air for his height but the bloke has 80+ caps for Germany, he's much better than he was able to show certainly in his first season because our team was all over the shop.

Plus you're never gonna be one of the world's best if you spend half your life on the treatment table.

Our first choice defenders are all good players. Mertesacker is our best defender by a mile, to me they just seem let down by a lack of drilling and instruction about when to hold their line and when to play offside.

There were plenty of caveats about Gibbs in my post, he needs to keep on improving and of course remaining free of niggly injuries would be good. But I look at the best left backs in world football and I dont see what Gibbs is missing to get to that level one day? Pace to burn, defending has improved immensely has shown some potential in terms of end product although still some work to do.

[augie]

Baines would be a definite purchase for me - would be mutually beneficial imo cos we would be getting the best english left back out there plus he would have a platform to launch himself into the top tier of left backs in the world
Of course it goes without saying that our CIC wouldnt buy him and even if he did buy him he would probably screw him over tactically and positionally but with the right manager in charge he could be great for us

[SteveO 35]

Been one of our best players this season - OK, that doesn't say much, but the team looks significantly weaker without him in it.

Baines is probably the best LB around at the moment, but other than Cashley there aren't many (any?) others I'd swap for him.....and it's hardly his bloody fault that he's suffered injuries either is it ?

[northbank123]

Steady on there fella. He's done well this year and has proved many (myself included) very wrong. But I wouldn't go as far as to say he could be one of the world's best.

It's hard really to assess any of our defenders in our current set-up, it's not fair. Mertesacker might be slow and very poor in the air for his height but the bloke has 80+ caps for Germany, he's much better than he was able to show certainly in his first season because our team was all over the shop.

Plus you're never gonna be one of the world's best if you spend half your life on the treatment table.

Our first choice defenders are all good players. Mertesacker is our best defender by a mile, to me they just seem let down by a lack of drilling and instruction about when to hold their line and when to play offside.

There were plenty of caveats about Gibbs in my post, he needs to keep on improving and of course remaining free of niggly injuries would be good. But I look at the best left backs in world football and I dont see what Gibbs is missing to get to that level one day? Pace to burn, defending has improved immensely has shown some potential in terms of end product although still some work to do.

I personally would say Sagna is our best defender, the guy is absolute class.

Agree that he could have the potential to be great but if his injury record is half as bad as it has been so far then it's going to hamper him hugely, and even if he stays fit there are no guarantees. I remember people around 2007 saying how Clichy was going to turn into a top left-back and quite a few people even saying we wouldn't miss Cole much ( ). Tbf I reckon Gibbs is actually not bad going forward, he's miles better than Clichy ever was. And he seems to have improved significantly defending, his positioning used to be absolutely atrocious.

Either way we need some competition at LB, Santos is completely inadequate as cover.

[brazilianGOONER]

baines is twice the player gibbs is going forward imo. would surely buy him and let gibbs as second choice. baines creates a lot down that left hand side.

[DB10GOONER]

baines is twice the player gibbs is going forward imo. would surely buy him and let gibbs as second choice. baines creates a lot down that left hand side.

Agreed. Gibbs has been reasonably good this season, but Baines is more skillful and a far better crosser of the ball. But then, my dead grandmother is a better crosser of the ball than Gibbs.

[I Hate Hleb]

baines is twice the player gibbs is going forward imo. would surely buy him and let gibbs as second choice. baines creates a lot down that left hand side.

Agreed. Gibbs has been reasonably good this season, but Baines is more skillful and a far better crosser of the ball. But then, my dead grandmother is a better crosser of the ball than Gibbs.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but doesn't being a Catholic give her an unfair advantage when it comes to crosses?