Gael Clichy

Name Gael Clichy
Born July 26, 1985
Toulouse
France
Position Defender
Squad Number 22
Previous Club(s) AS Cannes
Joined Arsenal August 04, 2003
Arsenal Debut Rotherham United (h)
Carling Cup 3rd Round
October 28, 2003,
Drew 1-1. Won on pens


22. Gael Clichy


Gael has put all his injury problems behind him and become one of the most consistent players in the Arsenal side. He became the youngest player to win a Premiership winners’ medal in 2004 at the age of 18. But it is worth remembering that in the two years since that, the former Cannes left back has suffered a couple of serious stress fractures.

Once settled into the side, his pace made him difficult to beat defensively and difficult to stop offensively. He played 40 games in 2006/07 and it is hard to remember a poor one.

At the start of the current campaign he was awaiting his first Arsenal goal and his first French cap. Surely both will have arrived by the end of the season.

                                                    My Year

April

There seems to be no stopping Gael as he continued his record of featuring in every Premier League game. He was also on song in Europe and moved closer to a full French cap with a man of the match performance at Old Trafford.

March

Gael suffered a nasty gash to the head in the draw with Middlesbrough but his late withdrawal from that game was the only time he missed any action for the Gunners in March. His most telling contribution came in the match with Aston Villa - his perfect cross leading to the equaliser. Gael was also included in the France squad late in the month, but did not play.

February

Gael’s only missed one game - at Old Trafford, when he was an unused substitute. The Frenchman was handed an international debut with his country's 'B' team — just reward for his sterling performances at club level all season.

January

Gael continued his run of being the only Gunner to play in every Premier League game this season. The Frenchman remains solid at the back and weighed in with two assists when he went forward.

December

Another stellar month for Gael as the Frenchman registered a number of assists from left-back. The Frenchman played every minute of Arsenal’s league campaign as they ended the year at the top of the table.

November

Missing through injury in the final game of the month, Gael was otherwise an ever-present. His fine form continued and he proved to be a valuable outlet on the left, but also steadied the ship in defence.

October

Gael shows little sign of slowing after a frenetic start to the season. The left-back continues to be a hugely impressive aspect of the Arsenal team, playing all but the final 16 minutes of October’s Premier League and Champions League games. He is yet to score but came incredibly close against Steaua when his deflected cross appeared to cross the line.