Arsenal Defender Grateful To Steve Bould

Arsenal defender Keiran Gibbs believes Steve Bould has had a massive influence on his devoplement at the club.

The 22-year-old has risen from the academy ranks to the first team and has replaced Gael Clichy as Arsenal first choice left back following the Frenchman’s move to Man City in the summer. Gibbs is thankful to Bould who managed him at one stage in his ten-year Arsenal coaching career, and the full-back told Arsenal.com:

“Steve Bould had a big influence on me.

“Obviously he was my manager for two years and I think it was at an important stage in my development as well.

“He taught me a lot and he taught a lot of the other players as well how to live on and off the pitch.”

Gibbs believes coming though the ranks with other team members has helped the team gel quicker. He added:

“Wojciech’s a similar age, a bit younger, but those players were playing with us for a few years so we all know each other quite well.

“We know what each other can do, which always helps.”