How Arsene Wenger convinced Gael Clichy to join Arsenal by getting rid of one player

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Former Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy joined Arsenal in 2003, ahead of the Invincibles season, and went on to make 264 appearances for the club.

The defender joined as a teenager, and had one of the club’s greatest ever full-backs in Ashley Cole, as well as Netherlands star Giovanni van Bronckhorst ahead of him in the pecking order upon his arrival.

However, Clichy eventually became a regular, and he has now lifted the lid on how Arsene Wenger convinced him to move to Arsenal despite the stiff competition for a starting spot at Highbury.

Gael Clichy opens up on how Arsene Wenger convinced him of Arsenal move

Speaking to Arsenal club media, Clichy revealed that Wenger convinced him to join shortly before loaning out Van Bronckhorst, and giving the Frenchman unexpected opportunities in the first team.

“The only question I asked Arsène when I joined was about the players who were in front of me – Ashley Cole and Gio van Bronckhorst. I remember saying “It all sounds great, but I don’t see myself getting many minutes,” Clichy explained.

“Of course I was already convinced about joining Arsenal, but in my head I thought I would move up a division, then eventually go to a top division team in France. But here was Arsène standing in front of me in Cannes, telling me he wanted me to join.

“He said “I don’t have anything to prove to you that you will play, but you will have to take my word for it. If you train and perform with your abilities the way we think you can, when Ashley is available, you will play.

“Then a couple of weeks after I joined, van Bronckhorst went on loan to Barcelona and at that moment I realised who Arsène Wenger was and his honesty. Then it was down to me to work the way I needed to.”

Arsene Wenger’s trust in youngsters at Arsenal

It spoke volumes that Wenger was willing to lose Van Bronckhorst to sign an unproven Clichy, but throughout his tenure at Arsenal, one of his best traits was his faith in young rising stars.

This was also shown when a teenage Cesc Fabregas was trusted to replace Patrick Vieira, with the captain and club legend joining Juventus, and both players received opportunities that they may not have gained at other clubs.

Clichy would go on to move to Manchester City, and another youngster in Kieran Gibbs would replace him, as Wenger continued to show that players would receive fair opportunities under his management whilst also competing at the top level.