Wednesday 1 October 2014 22:48, UK
Arsene Wenger believes Kieran Gibbs can follow in the footsteps of Ashley Cole and become England's first choice left-back.
The 25-year-old, who has been capped three times, has been ever-present in Arsenal’s back four this season after overcoming a series of injuries in recent years.
Everton's Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw of Manchester United are widely regarded as the natural successor to Cole who retired from international football earlier this year.
But Arsenal manager Wenger is convcinced England coach Roy Hodgson has an ideal replacement in Gibbs.
Kieran looks to me that he's going into second gear now and he realises that he can trust his body, he can trust his talent. He has such a great potential.
"For a long time it was Ashley Cole (for England), no discussion, now it is a bit more open," he said. "It is a good example to follow because Ashley is top.
"You see stories about Ashley Cole, but on the day of a game, when it mattered and when you had to be there, he was always there. You have to respect that.
"Kieran looks to me that he's going into second gear now and he realises that he can trust his body, he can trust his talent. He has such a great potential that now he just needs to let it go, because he can dribble as well.
"When he arrived at the club, he was 16 and he was a winger, midfielder, and I saw that potential didn't really come out so we always try to show him confidence.
"I saw he was intelligent and maybe I could transform him into a defender, it was a bit similar to Ashley Cole. I let Gael Clichy go because he (Gibbs) was a young, English left-back. That's the main reason I let Clichy go, I wanted to give him a chance."
Roy Hodgson announces his England side for the European Qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia on Thursday.
