Source: Daily_Mail
Gibbs' big chance: Clichy's injury gives Keiran an early run at Arsenal
Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal's loss can be England's gain after losing Gael Clichy for up to two months with a stress fracture of his back.[LNB]Clichy's injury means Kieran Gibbs will be handed an extended run in the side, starting against against AZ Alkmaar tonight, and Wenger feels the extra action could see the 20-year-old full-back stake a claim for a place in Fabio Capello's England squad.[LNB]'Capello and England will be happy,' said Wenger. 'They want him to play. I spoke with Stuart Pearce when he was with the Under 21s and they were always very happy with him. I have no doubt about the quality of Gibbs.'[LNB] Big break: Gibbs is set for an extended run in the Arsenal side[LNB]Comparing Gibbs' career progression to that of England's current first choice left-back Ashley Cole, Wenger added: 'Both of them were first offensive players and were transformed into left backs. Both adapted quickly and were thrown into big games very quickly so there are similarities there. I think Gibbs has good potential and he has a good role model in Clichy.'[LNB]Despite his obvious faith in Gibbs' talent, Wenger conceded he would have preferred to feed him in gradually.[LNB]He said: 'Clichy is a blow because it exposes Gibbs every three days in a period where he would have played occasionally. You rotate a little bit more when you move into November. Clichy will be out for one or two months and that is too much.'[LNB]Hammer blow: Clichy (right) was injured during Saturday's derby[LNB]Clichy was sidelined at the back end of last season with a similar problem, handing Gibbs an opportunity to show his talent. But the spell is perhaps best remembered for his mistake in the Champions League semi-final against Manchester United which allowed Ji-sung Park to snatch his team's opener on the way to a 3-1 win.[LNB]Wenger, however, insisted Gibbs has put the costly slip well and truly behind him. He said: 'I don't remember him for that mistake. After that he played and he played well so for me it is forgotten.'[LNB]Arsenal are also without Nicklas Bendtner for four weeks with a groin problem. But Wenger is happy he has the strength in depth to cope with both a domestic and European programme.[LNB]Happy that he does not have to manage an injury situation like that of Fernando Torres at Liverpool, Wenger said: 'We have Eduardo, Robin van Persie, Tomas Rosicky, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Andrey Arshavin.[LNB]'If you look in the offensive department we have plenty of players. If you look at the players we have out, Theo Walcott, Bendtner and Clichy, we still have a strong squad.' [LNB]Indeed, Wenger believes that the team who cope best with what hefeels is a customary swathe of injuries in November will be best placedto sustain a challenge for the Barclays Premier League crown. [LNB]He said: 'In England, you always get injuries in November. You look at the statistics and they always happen in November and then you know in December whether you can win or lose the championship.'[LNB] Sure touch: Arsene Wenger demonstrates a little ball control to assistant Pat Rice[LNB]A win tonight would virtually assure Arsenal a place in the knock-out stages of the Champions League. [LNB][LNB]And with matters progressing well on the pitch, Wenger is certainly not expecting any outside interference from American billionaire Stan Kroenke, who has upped his stake in the club to 29.6 per cent, just 0.3 per cent short of the figure which would force him to launch a takeover bid.[LNB]He said: 'Frankly, on that front I have no fear. I know what I want in life, how I want to work. As long as that is respected I am not involved in the rest. It is very, very importantin a club that everybody does what they are paid for. I am not paid to judge who has to own the shares. I am paid to produce a decent football team.[LNB]'I am an employee and he is the majority shareholder. He doesn't have to explain to me what he is doing; I have to explain to him what I am doing.'[LNB]'I don't have the feeling things are over my head. He (Kroenke) is on the board so I know what is going on because I am in on the meetings.'[LNB] [LNB]Now watch our video report...[LNB] Arsenal poised for US takeover as Kroenke nudges closer to ownershipPensioner finds overturned car in his front garden... for the third time this yearSagna: Arsenal are simply the best and we will win the Premier LeagueARSENAL FC
