GIBBS WILL GET BETTER AT DEFENDING ..HE’LL HAVE TO
Wenger says Baggies put emphasis on clean sheets while Gunners always shoot for goals
ARSENE WENGER agrees with Kieran Gibbs that he is set to improve under Tony Pulis – because he will do more defending.
The 27-year-old left-back completed his £7million move to West Brom on the penultimate day of the transfer window.
Gibbs then admitted he was excited at the prospect of getting better as a defender with Pulis at the Hawthorns.
But Wenger (right), who will come up against his former player tonight for the first time, believes there is a specific reason why Gibbs is likely to progress.
The Arsenal boss said: “He will have more to defend maybe. They are a team who focus more on defending. We are a team that goes forward.
“But he is an intelligent player who knows how to defend well.”
It was at the age of 18 that Gibbs broke into the Arsenal first team after emerging through the ranks.
When Gael Clichy left for Manchester City in 2011, Wenger confirmed Gibbs would become the Gunners’ new first-choice left-back.
In total, he went on to play for the Frenchman 230 times in all competitions.
He tumbled down the pecking order, however.
Last season the Londoner struggled for game time even before the arrival of Sead Kolasinac from Schalke on a free transfer.
With just 11 Premier League appearances to his name, Gibbs decided he was ready for a change.
Watford staked a strong claim for his services with boss Marco Silva a big fan.
But Gibbs was adamant that Pulis would advance his ambition to break back into the England picture.
He duly signed a four-year contract with the Baggies.
Wenger said: “Learning is an attitude in life.
“It doesn’t depend on your geographical state, but more of your attitude in your brain. Are you ready to question yourself to see if you can improve? Of course you can improve every day until the last day of your life.”
Gibbs has 10 England caps, having last featured in a 2-0 friendly win over France at Wembley in November 2015.
Wenger has revealed he feels sympathy for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as the former Arsenal midfielder struggles to find his feet at Liverpool.
Oxlade-Chamberlain moved from the Emirates to Anfield in a £40m deal during the final week of the transfer window only to be heavily criticised for his efforts so far.
“I sympathise with him, with everybody,” said Wenger.
“But we are in a job where you have to accept you are judged on your performances.
“The level of you rperformance is not definite, it’s not permanent.
“It is down to you to respond to that.”