Clichy injury may put pressure on Gibbs – Arsenal’s Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the injury to Gael Clichy may put pressure on young defender Kieran Gibbs.

French left-back Clichy has been ruled out for at least a few weeks with stress fractures in his back meaning 20-year old Gibbs will have to step into his position starting tonight in the Champions League against AZ Alkmaar.

The fact that Gibbs is so inexperienced may mean he has a lot of pressure heaped on him during Clichy’s absence which slightly concerns Wenger.

"We have lost Gael Clichy with a back injury, which was not expected. It looks like he could be out for a while,” Wenger said.

"We fear a stress fracture of the back, and we will know more about that later, but if that is the case, he will be out for a few weeks.

"I still think it is a blow because I was very comfortable now 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.”