Talks of a possible summer move to Arsenal for Leighton Baines have grown this week after Arsene Wenger admitted that he has some issues to sort out with young left-back Kieran Gibbs.
Wenger was quoted on Arsenal.com saying:
‘We are in May and if you go to the 20 Premier League clubs you will see frustrated players at every club. Kieran Gibbs, that’s a problem we have to sort out as well. We have mixed messages from people because we are always told to buy but then I’m told I don’t play my players enough. If I buy a few I will have more frustrated players.’
The 21-year-old England international is said to be unhappy with the terms of his current contract as well as his lack of playing time.
Gibbs has started just one Premier League match for Arsenal so far this season, making three other appearances as a substitute and is understandably frustrated. However, the youngster must understand that injuries have played a huge part for his limited opportunities this season.
Nevertheless, the left-back could be set for an Emirates exit this summer, and with Gael Clichy also said to be stalling on a new deal, Arsenal may now make a move for Everton’s £10 million rated full-back Leighton Baines.
Baines is a top class left-back and professional. Not only can he defend, but he is also capable of scoring the occasional goal and is a set-piece specialist, these are just some traits that are severely lacking, or have faded away from Gael Clichy’s game.
If Baines does make the switch to North London, then it would undoubtedly strengthen the Gunners back-line, and with many high-profile centre-backs being linked with a move to Arsenal, this summer could provide a welcomed silver lining for the clubs fans after a season of extreme disappointment.
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I hoped desperately got Gibbs but he’s just not the next Ashley Cole and Clichy polarizes opinions. Left back is a position we could afford to consider because neither of the current players there really instill confidence.
i think it time both gibbs and clichy moved on nethier have forfilled their promise, both make stupid mistakes especially clichy, so baines may be a good start
Today was crap eh??? anyway yeah gibbo should go he offers nothing and baines is better than clichy so i rate we get him and anothere CB and a striker!!!
Get Baines in, Clichy out. We claerly need a left back and our current ones are not good enough. Gibbs could be good for the future but his performance today just proves he is not ready.
I am sick of Arsene Wenger apologists who analyze game after game,season after season and somehow fail to see that there is only one problem at Arsenal: the club does not have a good manager. I woke up this morning knowing Arsenal would mess up on set -pieces, I knew about this problem since the day Sol Campbell left- over 5 years ago and what has Wenger done to solve the problem: Well, he has made it worse by buying “defenders” such as Senderos, Squillach and Clichy. ARSENAL WILL NEVER WIN ANOTHER TROPHY WITH WENGER AS COACH. I can bet my house on it. This overrated joke of a coach should leave now!! His time is up. It’s been six long trophyless years
xx have you been a fan for just 6 years? Didn’t Wenger buy Campbell? Didn’t he win the Premier League 3 times for us, including an unbeaten season with some of the best players ever to play for the club? 14 years of Champions League football? Champions League final in 2006? New stadium?
To say Wenger should move on is an opinion you may hold if you wish, to say he’s an “overrated joke” is, quite frankly, ridiculous.
If there’s one thing Wenger has earned, it’s time, so let’s give it to him.
If we get Chris Samba in CB, and Baines in LB, then we only need a proper striker, a scoring machine.