Kieran Gibbs

Kieran James Ricardo Gibbs (born 26 September 1989) is an English former professional footballer who played as a left-back.

After beginning his career at the Wimbledon academy, Gibbs moved to Arsenal along with Abu Ogogo and James Dunne when Wimbledon disbanded in 2004 and became Milton Keynes Dons.

Gibbs played as a left winger and also in the centre midfield position.

He featured regularly for Arsenal's youth and reserve teams.

Gibbs began his senior career with Arsenal in 2007, after joining the club from the Wimbledon academy in 2004.

He started out as a winger and moved to left-back after a loan spell with Norwich City during the same 2007–08 season where he made his Arsenal debut.

In September 2007, Gibbs signed a professional contract with Arsenal, and was named in the club's UEFA Champions League squad.

He made his first-team debut for the club when he started a League Cup match against Sheffield United on 31 October 2007, and made his second appearance coming on as a substitute for Eduardo da Silva in Arsenal's quarter-final against Blackburn Rovers on 18 December 2007.

On 31 January 2008, he agreed to go on loan to Championship club Norwich City until the end of the 2007–08 season.

He returned to Arsenal a match early on 29 April 2008 and retook his place in the Arsenal reserve squad.

He went on to make the substitutes bench for Arsenal's first-team match against Everton on 4 May 2008 but did not play.

He featured in Arsenal pre-season matches for the 2008–09 season, mostly as a left back, and was an unused substitute in Arsenal's 1–0 Premier League loss to Fulham on 24 August 2008, and a 3–1 victory over Bolton Wanderers on September.

Gibbs continued to play in Arsenal's League Cup campaign and played the full 90 minutes in Arsenal's 6–0 win over Sheffield United in the third round, on 23 September 2008.

He also played in the 3–0 win over Wigan Athletic as well as starting in the defeat to Burnley at the quarter final stage.

He made his UEFA Champions League debut on 10 December 2008, against FC Porto in Portugal, replacing Abou Diaby.

Gibbs made his Premier League debut against Tottenham Hotspur on 8 February 2009, coming on as a substitute for the injured Gaël Clichy.

With Clichy injured, Gibbs made his first UEFA Champions League start for Arsenal in the quarter-final second leg against Villarreal on 15 April 2009, which Arsenal won 3–0.

Gibbs started a FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea and set up Theo Walcott's goal.

He was also involved when Arsenal drew with Liverpool on 21 April at Anfield, where he cleared the ball off the line.

After an extended run in the first team in Clichy's absence, Gibbs made an appearance in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg away at Manchester United, which Arsenal lost 1–0.

In the second leg, Gibbs made a costly slip when attempting to defend a cross and allowed Park Ji-sung to score a crucial away goal for United after only seven minutes.

He started in Arsenal's opening home match of the 2009–10 season against Portsmouth and featured for the whole 90 minutes.

With Clichy injured and out for several weeks, Wenger entrusted the left back spot to the youngster.

However, on 24 November 2009, Gibbs broke a metatarsal in his right foot in Arsenal's 2–0 UEFA Champions League victory over Standard Liège as a result of a lunge from Eliaquim Mangala, sidelining him for the rest of the season.

Gibbs made his full England debut in a friendly against Hungary at Wembley Stadium on 11 August 2010.

He has made ten total appearances for the senior team.

Gibbs was born in Lambeth, London.

He is of Gaelic and Bajan ancestry.

His twin brother, Jaydon, is also a footballer and has played for Dover Athletic and Aldershot Town.

Gibbs made his first start of the season and completed 90 minutes when he replaced Gaël Clichy at left back against Bolton on 11 September 2010.

In a League Cup match at Tottenham, Gibbs started the match, deputising for Gaël Clichy at left back.

During the period of extra time, Gibbs suffered a suspected broken metatarsal to his left foot and he was replaced by Clichy.

A day later, the club confirmed via their official website that Gibbs had only suffered severe bruising to his left foot.

He made his comeback a week later in a UEFA Champions League 3–1 away win against FK Partizan.

He conceded a penalty in the second half which was eventually saved by Łukasz Fabiański.

Following the departure of Gaël Clichy to Manchester City, Wenger confirmed that Gibbs would be replacing Clichy as first-choice left back.

On 20 September 2011, Gibbs scored his first goal for Arsenal in the 33rd minute of a League Cup match against Shrewsbury Town.

On 16 October 2011 in the 2–1 victory over Sunderland, Gibbs suffered a stomach problem five minutes into the second half and was replaced by André Santos.

On 17 November, Gibbs underwent hernia surgery and was expected to be out for up to six weeks.

He moved to West Bromwich Albion in 2017 and would remain with the club over the next four seasons before moving to play for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.