Arsenal midfielder Arteta hails 'consistent' Gibbs and Jenkinson

Sep 20, 2012 5:44:00 PM

Spaniard feels the defensive duo have had an excellent start to the season and is hopeful they can maintain the same level of performance throughout the campaign

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has hailed the consistency of full-backs Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson this season.

The Gunners have enjoyed a solid start to the season at the back, conceding just one goal in their opening four Premier League matches.

Arteta believes both players have been playing at an extremely high level, particularly Jenkinson, who has stepped up in the absence of Bacary Sagna, and hopes they can continue that for the foreseeable future.


PREMIER LEAGUE LATEST
13/1	Manchester City are 13/1 with Paddy Power to beat Arsenal 3-0 on Sunday

He told the club's official website: "I think they’ve been very consistent. I think Gibbsy has been playing really well. I think he’s finding himself more comfortable going forwards.

"He’s rapid and can make a big difference. It’s tough for a wide man to defend [against] a full-back like him.

"Carl is finding himself more comfortable. He’s had four or five games under his belt, he’s done a whole pre-season with us and you can see he’s confident.

"Against Montpellier he put a brilliant cross in for Gervinho to score the goal.

"That’s what we need because we’re missing players. When you’re replacing someone like Bac [Sagna] it’s not easy because you’re under a lot of pressure. I think they’ve been really good.

"The challenge is to maintain the level and to keep up to the high level. I think that’s very difficult, but Carl’s done that in the last few games and hopefully he can maintain that."

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

play

open

Inside Goal.Com

Player Ratings: Dortmund 1-2 Bayern
Goal.com rates the players on show as die Roten edge out their Bundesliga rivals to complete the double after a closely contested Champions League final at Wembley
Robben is finally Bayern's braveheart
The winger was the driving force behind the German outfit's triumph after years of playing second fiddle in the final
Pep has a lot to live up to after Bayern win
The Catalan coach was appointed in January with a view to getting the best out of the Bavarians' golden generation. But just four months on, they are already European champions
Top 10 all-time Champions League scorers
As the competition moves within days of its much-anticipated conclusion at Wembley, Goal profiles the most prolific players in its history
Top 10 Champions League Final Moments
As Europe braces itself for an all German classic at Wembley on Saturday, Goal.com takes a look back at some of the iconic moments in the history of Uefa's showpiece event since its rebranding in 1992.