Kieran Gibbs says he’s eager to contribute more in the final third recognising that Arsenal’s playing philosophy affords him plenty of chances to express himself in attack.
Despite racking up over 120 appearances since breaking into the first team six years ago, the 24-year-old has only eight assists and four goals to his name although he did score against Fenerbahce in the Champions League qualifier back in August.
Eager to build on his exploits in Turkey and no doubt with one eye on an England World Cup squad place, the left-back spoke openly to the Arsenal matchday programme about his desire to improve.
“I think this year I’ve moved up a level. I’ve stayed fit and finally shown what I can do.
“There’s still a lot more I want to do though, especially offensively. Even on Saturday, I felt like I could have created more trouble for the opposition in the final third.
“I want to add more assists and even goals too. We play a certain way which enables me to get involved in the attack. But overall I’m happy and I just want to keep progressing and improving.”
Gibbs has certainly looked more confident in the final third since the start of the season and we at Arseblog News wait with baited breath for him to follow in the footsteps of Nigel Winterburn, Silvinho and er…Andre Santos by scoring a screamer away at Stamford Bridge.
In the meantime, he’ll need to be on his toes to deal with the threat of Marseille’s Florian Thauvin. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, who moved from Lille for big money last summer, has been pinpointed by Arsene Wenger as one of tonight’s opponents real danger men,
Speaking yesterday, the boss admitted he’d been keeping an eye on Thauvin’s progress: “It was a surprise transfer for me. We were following him and we were interested in him before he joined Lille.
“For me, he is one of the big prospects of French football. He will go higher. He is only 20. His progress now will not depend on his talent but on his mentality.
“We saw in the summer that he showed a great mental strength, but you can also question his mentality for the way he behaved towards Lille. Only the future will tell us.”
Gibbs has been the best left back in the league. The stats show it.
Sign Thauvin up!!! Haha
he’ll spend a couple more years at om then move to chelsea for way too much money.
Where is Diaby?
Out till next season apparently.
well, according to wenger’s latest update, he is out till march. So if all goes well, i hope he gets some sub-ins and maybe even a few starts under his belt before the season ends.
Carry on improving like this Kieran and we can finally forget the treacherous A. Hole having replaced him with a better version !
COYG !!!
Mad to think that he’s been in and around the first team for six years.
Here’s to a decent injury-free spell.
Correction, Gibbs scored the crucial 1st goal against Fenerbace in the CL Qualifier, not against Marseille.
Theo’s the one who scored the screaming volley against Marseille for our 1st goal. Nice having him back!
By Jove, he’s right!
i like your name
Right you are…cheers. It’s been updated now.
I think actually that Gibbs should just still keep focusing on consistency/fitness – it’d be fantastic though if we could attack on both sides of the pitch, instead of just Sagna lumping in crosses when we’re being boxed out. But still, 6 years and this is his first good consistent run…. maybe it’s good enough, for now.
He’s had other good spells, it’s just that he’s spent more time injured than not.
He’s been a top quality left back for a few years now.
i agree he’s fantastic, i love gibbs – but the key word above being ‘consistent.’ too many times Gibbs has been out when I really wish he was in the side…
i think, since currently we are playing without genuine left-wingers, gibbs, who is not as experienced as sagna, is finding a little more difficult to balance attack with defence and IMO is correctly erring on the side of caution by ensuring that he is at least solid at the back. i think, as time goes on, it will come a bit more naturally to him, and he will start bieng as fantastically effective as sagna is. all that bieng said, he has still done an amzing job. in all the matches that he has played this season, i am finding… Read more »
I agree, also if at some point we play gibbs with monreal on the wing or vice versa we will see some improvement on his statts from an attacking p.o.v.
If there is one player that ought to be a starter in the Three Lions and is not, it has to be Gibbs!!! ** sighs **
Keep working hard, stay fit and play well. Who knows……… Cashley Cole may be spending the summer in Bahamas.
Gibbs is one of the unsung hero of Arsenal, He give good support to the back two and at the time move up the flank swiftly allowing the mid fielders to advance in position to strike. I think everyone works as a unit and that’s the important thing we need in order to progress in both end of our campaign.
Gibbo is just another part of the Brit Core that is showing we have the mental and physical strengths plus dare I say it…. CONFIDENCE to push for a title this season. They along with the rest of the team are so different then the teams in the past 5 seasons, for me I can tell just even by how the stand out on the pitch before matches. I always loved being an Arsenal supporter, but when we’re on this type of form it’s that much F’ing sweeter. Especially when I run into Sp*rs fans… HAHAHA!!
Is it true that a good goal difference doesn’t impact your position in the groups but the head to heads do? I find that confusing to believe, but admittedly it’s possible. Not sure how that all works in Champions League.
to my understanding, which may be flawed both count, so equal points equal head to head between 2 teams i.e a win each then the scores count?
yes – head to heads after points
if three teams level then all matches between the three are considered, and goal difference between the three is the next factor. Arsenal getting 2 against Napoli could be important
I really look forward to more for Gibbs. Quite young and at a good time to peak, he can only get stronger (barring injury periods) and has shown how much of a fantastic defender he can be – stellar, quite frankly, but his attacking might need more of a chance for sure. He can cross well but needs to find opportunities to take them more as he is our only real width on the left at the moment, and Giroud is the perfect person to cross it in to right now. So much left to see from this lad, very… Read more »
Gibb is power.
Gibbs scored a screamer against Swansea in the FA. Cup I think, that was great technique from the lad. He caught it so sweetly on the volley! There definitely is a lot more to come from this young man. I learn t from RvP’s injury situation that we need to have the same faith Wenger has in our “constantly injured players”. When they come back they come back world class, now for Diaby and Ryo! UP THE GUNNERS!!!
Gibbs has been fantastic, and this has been particularly obvious when Santi’s been playing on the wing. Far be it from me to criticise the Spanish wizard, but tracking back and defending doesn’t appear to be his forte. But Gibbs has handled that really well, particularly against Dortmund at home. Personally I don’t mind if he doesn’t contribute that much in the final third, particularly when Sagna is in such fine form going forward.