Arsenal News: No old pals' act when Theo Walcott faces West Brom's Kieran Gibbs

THERE will be no old pals' acts when Kieran Gibbs and Theo Walcott come face to face again at The Hawthorns tomorrow night.

West Brom star Kieran Gibbs will go toe-to-toe with Arsenal ace Theo Walcott GETTY

West Brom star Kieran Gibbs will go toe-to-toe with Arsenal ace Theo Walcott

Both have a point or two to prove.

Birthday boy Gibbs - he's 28 on Tuesday - will be out to show his former Arsenal 'family' they could end up regretting selling him to West Brom for £7million last month.

Walcott will be on a similar mission, only his is to remind the England selectors that he can still do a job for his country if Gareth Southgate and co make it to next year's World Cup finals in Russia.

The fact that Gibbs and Walcott can spoil the other's chances only adds spice to an occasion which Arsene Wenger admits will be an emotional experience for him - and his Emirates old boy as well..

The Gunners boss was the man who turned the boy into a grown up international full-back after he arrived at Arsenal as a winger.

"Gibbs was educated at Arsenal from the age of 10," says Wenger. "He arrived as a winger, but I saw something in him that was very intelligent, with pace, that made me feel he could make it as a left-back."

Gibbs was educated at Arsenal from the age of 10

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

The Frenchman admits that when the time came for them to part last month it was like losing a family member.

"He did not ask to leave, it was a mutual decision. He's 27/28 and he wants to play at that age. 

"It was a difficult decision, but when a guy has given you so many years you have to accept that you cannot keep three left backs," he said.

Wenger professed that the move was a difficult one for Gibbs, but probably not as tough as this season will be for Walcott as he bids to emerge from being England's forgotten man.

"This is a big year for him because he is 29 and he was at the World Cup when he was 16 and after that missed two World Cups," he said.

But he revealed that Walcott is ready, willing and able to stake his claim.

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"Since the start of the season he has been highly focused and determined," Wenger continued. "He doesn't talk a lot, but he works very hard.

"He is focused on his job and he talks when he has something to tell you, he tells you. 'Boss I want to play' is something I hear many times from everyone, but that is what you want."

Wenger is also backing Aaron Ramsey to become an Arsenal talisman this season - and potential skipper.

He described the Welsh midfielder's performance at Chelsea last week as "absolutely outstanding."

He added: "The number of games Ramsey played in the Premier League last year was very low.

"We  lost him and Santi Cazorla together (through injuries) in October, and that was a big handicap for us.

"Hopefully he can be much better and have many more games this season. The target for him will be to have 30 games.

"It is all there (for him). He has maturity, has improved technically and is more conscious of the importance of his technical qualities. His game is clean and he has a huge physical power."

An Arsenal skipper in the making? Wenger was asked.

"Why not?" He added. 

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