Debuchy has been **** everytime he has played for us since he got over his injury issues. It's the reason Bellerin managed to take the spot in the first eleven from him, he returned from injury and failed to take his chances so Bellerin kept the spot, since then Debuchy has been rubbish whenever we have called on him. Whether it's down to a lack of game time or not he hasn't been good enough when we have called on him.
We need to strengthen our wing back positions. Bells needs sufficient competition. I don't really trust Gibbs to be honest. We need to up at some point, except there a massive improvement form Kieran. I would look at the LB and Napoli to come in to replace Monreal when he's beginning to slow down.
I think Gibbs has done a very good job as cover this season, and has given us a good option as a defensive left wing as well
He has been a good cover, yes. But let's not kid ourselves he's been at the club all his life and should be THe LB (not just cover) but hasn't really improved. It worries me that he's not a threat to Monreal. Can you honestly say you trust him to take over from Nacho? I definitely can't. With Bells you can see all the signs of a player with quality even when he has off days there's enough to say yeah he can be the one. Gibbs is defensively erratic. Poor positionally. Decision making offensively is mediocre. He's in the Walcott mold, great pace but technically poor. We need an upgrade. Someone who thinks. I still have hope for Jack and The Ox.
I'm happy with Gibbs as our back-up LB and option from the bench to close out games. Good player who would be fine with a run of games.
Monreal has just signed a new contract and I expect he will be with us for another 2-3 years, who knows what level Gibbs will be playing at by then. I'd have to see how he does with an extended run in the first team. But when Monreal goes I expect us to sign another LB to compete with Gibbs for the spot just like they are expected to compete with each other now.
TBH we need not worry about who will be our LB in 3 years, when it comes to LB, we have had that position on lock down for so long, we always have someone quality in that position, generally when it comes to full backs, we're always solid in that position, it's one of the least worrying areas for Arsenal.
Exactly - not sure why we are talking like we need to get rid of both of our LBs if our 1st choice LB goes? (which he's not, as he's signed a new contract). Surely if Monreal goes then we'd just look for a replacement. If nothing else Gibbs is a great back up, you'll struggle to convince an amazing LB to be content with a spot on the bench and barely any gametime.
Although Monreal has signed a new contract, he is 30 this year. He may be fine for another season, but we do need to think about who will replace him in the pecking order at some stage. I'm not sure if we have any decent young left-backs coming up the ranks, but we need to make sure that once he goes, we have someone to replace him. Gibbs is decent and I don't mind him as second-choice, but he's not great. I'm hoping we can get Chigwell from Leicester in the Summer.
Gibbs has shown with an extensive run he can be v good. Problem for him, along with half our team, is he rarely gets that due to being made of glass! He's not looked the best when he's stepped in but it can't be easy to step into defence for a few minutes here and there, it's a position which requires you to play constantly to build that rapport. Personally I don't think you can have a much better back up. Definitely need a RB though seeing as Arsene has earmarked Chambers elsewhere (also he's looked sh*te when at RB...!).
Enough to show he wasn't good enough anymore, he was bad VS West Ham, he even looked poor VS Chelski in the Community Shield, and looked distinctly average in the cup game. You could see the guy's level had massively fallen because of injuries, last year when he played for us, he was always solid, before his first injury, and even after he came back from first injury he was very reliable and a very good RB, but this season, he was just bad.
Once Jenko is back fit next season, we will have two good proper RB's and Debuchy will not be missed. This year for now, we will have to make due with Chambers as the back up, and if worst comes to worst, Kos and Coq can fill in that spot too.
Do you not think he would have shown his original form if he'd have been given an extended run in the team ?
I thought Gabriel was bought with the idea that he could play anywhere across the back 3? and even had experience of playing FB when needed in an emergency?
