Arsenal defenders Gibbs and Jenkison improving with every game, says Wenger

03 Oct 2012 12:56:00 AM

The Gunners' manager is pleased with the progress of his young full-backs so far this season, believing their performances are getting stronger with each match they play

Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal full-backs Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson are improving with each game they play this season.

Gibbs has come through the youth system at the Emirates making his first team debut in 2007. However, a string of injuries had restricted the 23 year-old to just 34 appearances by the end of the 2011-12 season.

Wenger is hopeful that the young left-back's fitness issues are now behind him and that he can build on his consistent start to the season continuing to develop with each fixture.

He told the club's official website "I am very happy with his performances because he is like Carl - in every game he gets stronger.

"He was out a lot but now he has found stability in his performances.

"Gael Clichy had the same problem. He went through a long period of injury and after that he stabilised physically. That’s what Kieran is doing at the moment."

Jenkinson has also made a strong start to his second season with the north London club. The 20-year-old signed from Charlton in June 2011 and struggled with form and fitness in his first campaign for the club.

The Gunners boss believes that, like Gibbs, the former Addicks defender is benefiting from a full pre-season's preparation and that greater levels of self-confidence are directly related to his impressive performances so far.

"This year they have benefited from the fact they had a good preparation," he said.

"Carl has as well gained one year’s experience compared to last season. He came from Charlton and was straight away thrown into the Champions League.

"You can say that from game to game now he grows because it is linked with confidence.

"You need first to know that you belong there. Once you know that you can express yourself and then you see that in every game there is more coming out of him."

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