Kieran Gibbs believes he’s proved wrong those doubters who wrote him off as injury-prone having made a full recovery from the metatarsal and hernia injuries that ruled him out for sustained periods a couple of years ago.
The left-back, who has started all nine games in the Premier League so far this season, believes that he turned a corner in his career last year when he managed to stave off any serious problems to feature 34 times for the Gunners despite competition from Andre Santos and Nacho Monreal.
Talking to the Independent ahead of Liverpool’s visit to the Emirates, the 24-year-old England international admitted he’s been driven by a desire to shake off unfair labels.
“People say about me: ‘He’s a good player but he’s injured a lot’. That’s something that really frustrates a player, especially when the player in question doesn’t feel like he is injury-prone.
“That is one of the biggest things I wanted to correct people on. I know I can play the amount of games needed. I feel like I have done that. Last season I did get one injury but I still felt that I can sustain playing at this level.”
Back in September Gibbs credited both yoga and a specialist fitness plan for his improved health.
“I have always felt that when I am able to get a run of games, that is what I needed to kick on. I have always felt sure I could do that.
“Now I feel I am kicking on. I need to keep that going and stay fit. That is my main target.
“Since my thigh strain at the end of last year, I met someone new who has taken a good look at me physically, and I owe him credit because he has kept me fit for the last eight to 10 months.
“The work he asks me to do is not easy, but as long as it keeps me fit, I’m happy.
“It is just extra work in the gym, out of hours, to strengthen everything and just to make sure that everything is ready before and after games. It’s all about recovery.”
Naturally with a World Cup on the horizon Gibbs will want to do everything he can to impress Roy Hodgson over the coming months although you suspect it’s going to take an injury to either Ashley Cole or Leighton Baines to give him a real chance of playing on football’s biggest stage so soon. In the meantime he’s got some serious competition in the form of Nacho Monreal keeping him sharp at the Emirates.
If he keeps doing this though, he shouldn’t have any problem keeping his place.
I love Gibbs! Perhaps our most consistent player? Nacho’s good game on tuesday shows we’ve got the LB position sorted 🙂
Don’t think anyone can give him much competition with his spectacular form now or in the nearest future, not even Momreal!
Love the way he gives 100% for the Arsenal while playing.
*Monreal there 🙂
Gibbs has done well recently, he has defended & attacked the left & gd runs up the line just as good he wont get caught out back tracking & bacary
He looks so much like vermaelen in that pic.
No he doesn’t. Verm has the cold emotionless eyes of a contract killer, while Gibbs, for some reason, has always reminded me of Winnie the Pooh. Dunno why
god NO!
I love Gibbs’ Confidence. now lets beat Liverpool.
Two world class LBs in the squad, cant ask for more in that position:-)
Wenger should rotate them properly coz Nacho is a very good player too and shouldn’t be called upon only in case of an injury to Gibbs or played as a left winger in the last 10 minutes of a game
I believe him when he says he isn’t injury prone, and I’m interested to hear that he is doing extra work to stay that way, but I am going to spend the next three weeks nervously worrying about him now that he has spoken publicly about it. I hate it when our players tempt fate 🙂
Would love to see him put Suarez in his pocket today, and score a goal to add salt to the wound.
He’ll have to take him out of Koscielny’s pocket first, that’s where all the world class players go.
He would have scored a goal if he hadn’t gone off injured.
Oh, why did I open my big mouth?
I could watch that West Brom tackle a million times. I think the whole of East London heard my almighty “WELL IN, GIBBO!!” immediately following. Here’s to another tremendous performance from him today!
I think he’s quite similar to Theo in his progression. He don’t take big steps and sometimes you feel he maybe could be already a better player given the talent he’s got. But i think both of them are getting better year by year and maybe the fact that a lot of players played at a very high level at a very young age at Arsenal in the past makes us sometimes a bit impatient. But they are both 24 now so now they are slowely comming into their best years. And I am pretty optimistic that both of them… Read more »
I really feel for Nacho. With the form of Gibbo this season,then you can’t ask for Monreal to be ever so patient !!!
Goal.com reporting that Wilshere is injured for this afternoon, and might not even make the bench. However, the phrase “Goal understands” is used twice, so hopefully it isn’t true!
Why doesn’t he ever smile?
Gibbs is better than money sucking Cashely Cole.
Off topic but… Chelsea just lost to the toon bhahahahaha
Added incentive for today’s game
Massive incentive. If we can get a win today we will be putting some distance between the rest of the lot. Cmon you Gunners! Its time to stand up and be counted!
Chelshit just lost. I hope we win and give ’em mugmushers and chelshit that ‘mind the gap’ feeling…shit manure are running riot at Craven Cottage
That Newcastle result is massive. It gives Liverpool the chance to go top too, so they will be well up for this. We’ll need to play well, but now have the chance to go 5 points clear of Chelsea.
Bookies are making City favourite to win the league. C’mon Arse, let’s prove everyone wrong and make shit-talking Hansen eat his words.
As the great man Wenger said, a positive attitude is key for a successful life. Wise words.
Big mert, arteta and rosicky playing great lets keep it up
‘I met someone new who has taken a good look at me physically’.
Good for you Kieron x
Typical, he’s just been taken off INJURED!!
It’s all Blogs’ fault, he’s cursed him. I hope you’re happy with yourself Blogs, I think you need to take a moment and think about what you’ve done.
What a great day. First big mouth Morinho and Chelsea lose a game that everybody figured they’d win and then we defeated Liverpool. I think maybe its time people stop asking if Arsenal can win it all. Remember these wins have been coming with a ton of injuries. Imagine when we are healthy. Can’t wait for the next two games!
Happy days. We may not win the league, so we should enjoy this. We may though, which’ll be even better! Fuck it. We WILL!
Can’t wait to watch Hansen squirming later!
Ooh to, ooh to be!
oh to be a gunner!
Sorry, got OCD, couldn’t let you not finish that.
Understandable! I’m all happy and pissed up on booze!
True with Walcotts speed today we would of destroyed them when they had 3 at the back
Looking forward to Anal Hansen squirming later. First MOTD of the season, “Arsenal have no chance of finishing in the top 4 or above Spurs”.
I reckon we’ve every chance of finishing in the top 4! He’s got to let ’89 go. Can’t get over it.
Hahaha can’t wait meself he’s a wanker, 89 still killing the cunt
He jinxed it. Arsene said its muscular. BS. It’s karma, is what it is.
Gibbs had no problem walking off the field today by himself. It looked like he just tweaked his knee, which means he’ll most likely be okay.
Everyone’s here because there’s no reports on tonight’s game!
Where’s the match report! aaaah!
Just put up Arsenal 2 SAS 0 we will fill in the match report for ya……
I’m here in the USA in a state of euphoria. Wish I could be in a pub in London drinking pints and celebrating the victory with other Gooners. Still can’t believe that after 62 years of not liking soccer I have fallen in love with the sport and with Arsenal. I have truly become an Arsenal fanatic. Love it!
Nice one. You picked the right team for a love affair!
Welcome aboard Tsardom, you picked the very best team to support!