'It will be strange to see him in that shirt'

He spent 13 years with us and worked his way through the ranks to become a first-team regular who made 230 appearances.

But on Monday, Kieran Gibbs will walk out at Emirates Stadium in the colours of another team after swapping Arsenal for West Bromwich Albion in the summer.

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“It will strange to see him in a different shirt because he is a player who has been educated here from a very young age,” said Arsene Wenger. 

“I am sure that he will have great motivation and will have a huge influence at West Brom, and it can give another push to his career.

“He has become an English international here. He has made a good career here and I believe that Arsenal is very proud for that and Kieran Gibbs can be proud. 

“What happened to Kieran Gibbs is he had been bothered a few times when he was in front of other players. Many times he was a regular player here, but he had some fitness worries as well and that stopped him here.”