Arsenal: Kieran Gibbs outweighs Oxlade-Chamberlain’s talent

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said that Kieran Gibbs sale hurt worse than Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Despite the high ceiling of the latter, it’s clear why.

Arsenal takes a lot of pride in their academy products, and this has led to the somewhat surprising claim that Arsene Wenger made when he stated that selling Kieran Gibbs hurt worse than selling Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

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Gibbs recently left the Gunners for the West Brom after 13 years of playing in red and white. West Brom is only the third team Gibbs has played for throughout his career, going out on loan to Norwich City in 2008.

Here is what Wenger said, as quoted by Sky Sports:

"Overall it’s true that with Gibbs (it hurt) more than Chamberlain because he had been educated at Arsenal from the age of 10."

Le Prof goes on to state how Kieran Gibbs was transformed into a left back, initially playing as a left winger. Wenger saw intelligence and pace in Gibbs’ game, thus transforming him into a defender.

Alex Oxalde-Chamberlain, who also left the Gunners for a pricey fee of £40 million to Liverpool had been at the Emirates from a young age as well. He was bought from Southampton as an 18 year old, after a breakthrough season in League One with the Saints in 2011.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who left on bad terms with the Gunners, was a key figure in the first team last season, while Gibbs barely featured.

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Gibbs would only make 11 appearances in the Premier League last season compared to Oxlade-Chamberlain who made 29 appearances, scoring twice and assisting seven.

Based on the stats, it would seem as Oxlade-Chamberlain would be a bigger loss to Wenger. But according to the manager, it was the opposite, but it’s easy to see his side, as a man who is often heralded as a father figure for the individual care he shows each and every player.

Wenger claimed it was ‘true’ that the sale of Gibbs hurt more than Oxlade-Chamberlain because he was ‘educated at Arsenal.’ He also added:

"Academy players carry the values that you think are important…plus real team play and focusing on a collective way."

Fans have been quick to praise Gibbs on his professionalism during his time with the Gunners during the past few seasons while playing second fiddle to Nacho Monreal. Gibbs did not complain nor did he come out in the media pushing for a transfer which shows a great respect towards the club and manger.

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Kieran Gibbs played in the FA Cup final win in 2014 against Hull City. The left back would also claim an FA cup winners medal twice more and claim two Community Shield Medals during his long North London career.