Wenger confident over Gibbs' progress

Arsene Wenger is confident youngster Kieran Gibbs will thrive in an unexpected run at left-back in the first team.

With Gael Clichy set for an extended spell on the sidelines following a stress fracture to his lower back, 20-year-old Gibbs will start against AZ Alkmaar in tonight’s Champions League clash at the Emirates Stadium.

It is a role familiar to the England Under-21 international, an outsider for Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad, and for the most part Gibbs has not looked out of place when filling in for Clichy.

Wenger said: “I was very comfortable to have a solution to rest Clichy when it was needed and play Gibbs. Now suddenly there is a huge stress on Gibbs to play in every game.

“Capello and England will be happy because they want him to play of course, but it is still a blow for us to lose Clichy.”

Wenger stressed: “I have no doubt about the quality of Gibbs, and I have said that many times.”

The Gunners kept up the pressure on leaders Chelsea and Manchester United with a 3-0 win over north-London rivals Tottenham, and could move into the last 16 of Europe’s elite club competition with victory tonight.