Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Rocky7 
Date:Monday July 11 2011
Time: 12:06PM
UK time is: 06:59:04
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No Clichy Replacement, Wenger Playing a Risky Game
Arsene Wenger has rather astonishingly claimed that Arsenal are up to scratch in the left back department, despite the sale of Gael Clichy in the summer.
The Gunners have a rich tradition of producing excellent left backs over the past 20-30 years, however having lost Clichy to City this off-season on the face of it it seems as though we`re a little light in quality.
Wenger, however, has a different opinion,
'The plan for left back is that we have Kieran Gibbs, Armand Traore and Thomas Vermaelen can play there too. So we have what we need,'
One would hope that this was just the gaffer is just deploying some smoke screens as not to get prices of potential LB targets hiked in the knowledge we`re in need of strengthening, however the past 4 or 5 years have shown Arsene Wenger`s policy seems to have become one of selling or letting go first choice players, and then not replacing them.
Considering how injury prone Gibbs and Vermaelen appear to be, coupled with the, quite frankly, sh*tness of Traore, this is not only a risky game but pretty irresponsible.
Is it any wonder our top players seem to want to leave when this is our policy?
With a massively tough start to the season beckoning, Gervinho signing aside, this summer has been nothing short of disapointing, and frankly, bloody worrying.
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Your Comments
mmmm. I have to say that Gibbs is a real possibility there and if he can stay fit. Thats is a big IF, knowing his record. I believe though that he is better defensively than Clichy and positionally but doesn't have his speed. Oh well. The joys of being a gooner. I'm in this for the long haul!
Trennon
I agree that Gibbs can do the job, he's a player I rate highly indeed. But Traore just is not good enough ... and Vermaelen? just another case of playing players where they clearly don't belong.
Rocky7
Typical Wenger putting player development over the needs of the team. Arsenal FC policy should never be selling players to give others a chance to play, getting a 1st team slot should only ever be performance based and unfortunately for Gibbs because of injury this isnt the case. I wish Gibbs well, really hope he stays injury free and performs.
iceman10
I too worry about this. Gibbs ain't ready, but even if he steps up (and stays fit) at his absolute best, it's going to be a sideways move from Clichy rather than looking to improve. I like Gibbs and wish him all the best, but this is a gamble and the odds would be reduced if he went out and got a quality replacement in. If Vermaelen at left back is such a brilliant idea, why have we never done it before? This looks like more make do and mend. Like Almunia was, like the gambles on Vermaelen and Rosicky's fitness were, like hoping Denilson would step up with Gilberto and Flamini gone.
Little Dutch
We also have Wilshere who can play there
No 10
I'm clutching at straws here, but I really hope beyond hope he has someoen up his sleeve. Jesus christ Traore, he was terrible for us before, played 10 times for Juve since, threw a hissy fit when someone dared point out he made a msitake for goals. If it starts on Sept 1st and he's our 2nd choice LB then I know exactly what side of the fence i'll be sitting with Wenger and the club.
shewore
I'll just take the position it is a smokescreen to bring down the price of potential LBs; now, every club knows we are in the market for a LB, they will be salivating waiting for Wenger to make his move. It looks like one position he will keep till late in the window to fill. Very worrying if he fails to do so.
Naijagunner
A ******** joke.
Sajit
gibbs gets injured easily,and for the life of me I can't see Verminator playing there. Traore is ****e too! Nail on the head Rocky!!
e dubbz
Gibbs won't last til the end of August, window slams shut then bam he'll be stricken with our now tradional lightweights syndrome and be out for four months leaving us shafted. You are walking into a bearpit Arsene, which has a floor of thin ice underneath which is a snakepit. First team appearances on merit ONLY!!!
nikolaijns
Add to that when Gibbs returns from 4 months injured he will be "like a new signing" in January!
Will-i-am10
Vermaelen as LB is an interesting proposition. I'll reserve judgement until I see him play there, but he's clearly a player who can contribute on the offensive end, so playing LB might allow him more freedom to attack a bit. Defensively, I like that he has toughness, but does he have the speed to keep up with speedy wingers?
krismon1
'just another case of playing players where they clearly don't belong', Vermaelen played the majority of his career at Ajax as an LB Rock
Ozi Gooner
Ozi Gooner i agree with you, I do agree with the other comments on here though that gibbs and the verminator do seem to be injury prone, actually all of arsenal seem to injury prone, and that leaves trashouldhavebeenakickboxerorea, and as his name says he chose the wrong sport!! I wish gibbs all the best as i think he has a clever and level head on his shoulders and does not appear to be a player that likes the lime light more than the fact he gets paid to play a game we all love. My worry is after the fatal slip against united in the CL Semi he seems to have gone backwards a little and not develop as it looked like he was doing, so i hope the confidence comes back and he does step up to the plate as when he did play a couple of games last yr he looked shacky at best!!
JLOWEP
Vermaelen's problem is not his pace either. Having played with Gallas
when he was fit, he played with a player much like himself.
It would be good to see him play at CB with Djourou. It is likely TV may
be used as a backup left back.
Deltaforce
Hopefully Wenger is just saying this in case he can't find a replacement for Clichy. A club with real ambition would be replacing a player like Clichy with a better player, not providing pre-excuses. Even fully fit, Gibbs is IMO a considerable downgrade from Clichy.
elbondo
Also, AW thinks he can play Eboue there.. He has it 'covered'!!
e dubbz
It all depends on a good pre-season for Gibbsy I believe. If he gels well with the team and starts well from the off then I can see him rise in confidence and fill the void left by Clichy. Of course injuries will also play a part in that.
Eboue=GOD
"why develop a player, give him a champions league run-out, make him a first team player, have the luck that he's English only to replace him with a foreigner?" I bet this is what's going to happen if wenger does not promote Gibbs. I say give him a chance/ if he fails, we see it, he sees it and then will most likely remain to learn and improve. if he doesn't get the chance it would end up like Bentley, Pennant and the like.
GunnaBlazing
I laugh when i think of Arsenal, your coach makes me laugh. Its like a team of little boys running around saying "we don't want to score, but see if you can catch us and collect the ball" lmao
davidluiztrain
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