03 Aug 2014 12:10:48
Hello fellow Gooners. One question I'd like to ask.

Am I the only one who thinks we need a better left back than Gibbs and Monreal?

Gibbs is out of position too often and Monreal is not much better. I don't say they are not good or will not become better but I think we lack experience and even more defensive discipline.

They are ok going forward but what they miss is the ability to put crosses into the box. Same problem we had (or maybe still have, depends on Debuchy's sklill) with Sagna. He had some games when he played some great crosses but the majority of time he hit the 1st defender or the ball went out of play.

What I think is, and it hurts to say, we never really replaced Cashley Cole. If we are honest he was great on both ends of the pitch. Clichy was not any better than Gibbs I think.

I cannot see Wenger signing another left back but just wanted to share my thoughts and looking forward to receiving your feedback.

1.) 03 Aug 2014
03 Aug 2014 12:23:35
Completely agree mate.
Monreal hasn't been that good for us, his first 6 months were easily his best, I think personally he should be moved on.

Gibbs, has his moments of playing well, but he's too inconsistent, too injury prone and in honesty, isn't good enough to be our first choice.

I'd ideally like him to be second choice to a new LB, but as you say, I can't see Wenger buying a left back

2.) 03 Aug 2014
I agree, but who would you replace them with realistically?

3.) 03 Aug 2014
LB is the least of our worries ( we don't have that many ) you can't have world cup winners in every position .

4.) 03 Aug 2014
Completely agree mate!

5.) 03 Aug 2014
03 Aug 2014 12:50:25
I must say I quite disagree on Gibbs. Really do rate the guy. But can see where your coming from. I do still think he is good enough for us. Maybe he gets caught too far forward at times because when we got him he was actually a left midfielder. On Monreal I really do not like him. And would like another lb to compete with Gibbs.

6.) 03 Aug 2014
Agree with you guys monreal is average at best and Gibbs is OK but going forward he needs to do better he Has the pace so he should be bombing forward more often his crossing isn't the best either we do need another lb but I think Wenger believes we can cope so I don't see another lb this season maybe a cb that could cover lb as well similar to tv5

7.) 03 Aug 2014
03 Aug 2014 14:01:59
I disagree on Gibbs. He's had a couple of interrupted seasons, but we've always looked better and more fluid in attack when he's there. He links the transition and attack. Arsene likes to overload attack on the LB and defence responsibilities on the RB. Gibbs is doing what he is told and the responsibility lies on the DM or the RB to form a back 3 when Gibbs goes upfield. We've seen that failure a few times, but it's not Gibbs fault. I rate him as an English international, solid defensively, underrated in attack because his strength is playing the ball on the deck, especially one twos, not crossing in the air. And he has great recovery

8.) 03 Aug 2014
03 Aug 2014 14:17:46
If I could choose I'd probably go for David Alaba. Young but experienced, down-on-earth-attitude / no scandals (known to me), good statistics and he is not even a World Cup winner :P.

Guess he'd fit in very well but sadly this is just whishful thinking. I do not say we really have to buy another left back but I still think left D is our weak link. To me the offensive midfield (as long as nobody leaves) is our least worries but that's how opinions differ. :)

9.) 03 Aug 2014
Gibbs could be more than good, but really needs better balance between attacking and pushing up In some of our biggest blow ups he left the back exposed, we are not playing bottom dwellers (read Spurs) every week.

10.) 03 Aug 2014
Really rate gibbs, however sometimes his attitude isn't what it should be. - tracking back. Once he's injured in a season never seems to recover till the next one.

monreal needs to be moved on definately,

11.) 03 Aug 2014
03 Aug 2014 16:26:15
You're wrong on Gibbs but right on Nacho, he is toilet.

12.) 03 Aug 2014
03 Aug 2014 20:54:45
Gibbo is fine when fit but that's not often enough imo, Monreal is fine as back up to a quality LB who isn't injury prone, so together there a weak combo.
Its not desperate but ideally I think we could do with someone like Baines, sorry Ed0025