Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has claimed that losing Kieran Gibbs, hurt more than the departure of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Gibbs left Arsenal this summer after 13 years at the club to join West Brom and could face his former side on Monday, when the Baggies visit the Emirates.
“Yes [it hurts when such players leave] because ideally you want stability and you want players who carry the values through the generation,” Wenger said.
“It’s true that Gibbs [hurt] more than Chamberlain, because Gibbs has been educated here from the age of [14].
“When he arrived he was a left winger. I transformed him into a full-back because he was not necessarily rated as a guy who would make it as a left-winger. But I saw something in him – intelligence, pace – that that made me feel that he could make it as a left-back.”
Gibbs made 230 appearances for Arsenal, but found himself as second choice to Nacho Monreal for the last two seasons. With Sead Kolasinac’s arrival this summer as well, Wenger said it was natural for Gibbs to go somewhere else.
“He wanted to play. He’s 27, so you want to play at that age,” Wenger said.
“It was a difficult decision, but on the other hand when a guy has given you that many years, you have to accept that if he is not sure to play. I believe that for them as well it must be difficult to make that step.”
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