Kieran Gibbs

August

Kieran began the new season as first-choice left back, helping the team keep clean sheets in their first two matches against Sunderland and Stoke.

September

Kieran again impressed alongside fellow full back Carl Jenkinson in September. He was particularly lively against Southampton, where his two assists helped Arsenal to a 6-1 win. "I always said if I can get a good run of games under my belt, I can always get stronger and hopefully be more consistent - which is what I’m doing at the minute. I’m happy to be fit and I’m happy to be playing," he said.

October

Kieran started the wins over both Olympiacos and West Ham, before picking up a thigh injury at the Boleyn Ground that ruled him out for the rest of the month.

November

Kieran returned from injury to make two appearances in November. He was part of the defence that kept a clean sheet against Aston Villa, and came on as a substitute against Everton.

December

Kieran continued to play his part in December, starting every game except the visit to Olympiacos in the Champions League. The left back signed a new contract with the Club, along with fellow young Britons Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey and Carl Jenkinson. "It’s really important that everyone stays focused now," Kieran told Arsenal.com ahead of the Christmas fixtures. "This is the busiest part of the season and if we can keep everyone together through this period and get good results under our belt, it puts us in a strong position for the rest of the season.”

January

Kieran featured in all eight of Arsenal’s games in January, before going off with an injury against Liverpool at the end of the month. The left back scored a stunning volley against Swansea in the FA Cup, the goal capping a fine performance which saw him named man of the match. “He scored a cracker. When he plays with freedom and determination, you see the kind of performances we saw at Swansea,” the manager told Arsenal Player. “That’s what you look for sometimes. He’s getting stronger and stronger. I like when you feel that every year a player makes a step forward in their career.”

February

Kieran missed all of Arsenal’s fixtures in February through injury.

March

After returning from the injury picked up against Liverpool at the end of January, Kieran made his 100th Arsenal appearance when he came on as a substitute against Reading. The defender started at Bayern Munich and also came off the bench against Swansea. The full back drew praise from his manager, who said: “He has improved a lot, has put his personality into the games, which was sometimes a bit of a problem for him. He has authority, he is decisive going forward, and in games where we were struggling a bit like Swansea in the cup he turned up and was the one who brought the pressure on the opponent.”

April

Kieran missed only the victory at Fulham during April. The defender was part of the team that kept a clean sheet in the tense 0-0 draw at home to Everton. “I would say for Gibbs it's the same as it is for Oxlade-Chamberlain because he has improved tremendously this season,” Arsene Wenger said. “October and November was really a springboard for him where he moved forward. He's a candidate for higher up.”

August

Kieran started the first game of the season at Newcastle but was withdrawn from the win against Udinese with a hamstring injury and missed the rest of the month.

September

Kieran proved a tough man to displace in the first team and Arsenal were unbeaten when he played in September. It was a milestone month for the young left back as he grabbed his first goal for the Club in the Carling Cup 3-1 win over Shrewsbury. “In pre-season I scored a few and then when the season comes I always come close and never score,” he said. “But my luck has changed."

October

Kieran missed the majority of the month's action with a stomach injury. He started in matches against both Tottenham and Sunderland, helping the Gunners to victory in the latter.

November

Kieran did not feature as he recovered from a stomach injury. The England international underwent surgery on a hernia.

December

Kieran recovered from a stomach injury but picked up a groin problem which ruled him out of a speedy return to action.

January

Kieran continued his recovery from a groin injury before returning to full training at the end of the month.

February

Kieran returned from a four-month lay-off in the Champions League defeat at AC Milan. The young left back also started in the 5-2 win over Tottenham at Emirates Stadium. “At one point we had so many players out, and it just hurt to see the team effectively cut in half,” he said. “It was so frustrating, and when you can’t help the team you almost blame yourself in some ways. You wonder why it’s happening, and just want to get back as soon as possible.”

March

Kieran went from strength to strength after fully recovering from injury to play a key part in Arsenal's excellent seven-match winning streak in the league. He grabbed his first Premier League strike in the 3-0 win over Aston Villa and featured in every one of Arsenal's six matches over the month. "He slowly became himself again and you see that most of the time for a full back with the initiative it takes going forward," said Arsene Wenger. "Defensively in the challenges he is stronger. I still feel there is more to come from him and from game to game there are improvements there. He was transformed into a full back but the natural [ability] always comes out. It is good because we have a game that is based on that."

April

Kieran featured three times over the course of the month, helping Arsenal keep clean sheets against Manchester City and Chelsea. "We have to finish the season strongly," he said. "The way we see it is that if we win our games then we secure our position in third. We shouldn't lose focus now."

May

Kieran made a vital contribution after coming off the bench against West Brom, denying Billy Jones with a last-ditch challenge in injury time. The young left back started the 3-3 draw against Norwich. "The boss has always says, 'you have to be ready when you come off the bench' and Gibbsy made probably made the most important tackle of his career so far," said team-mate Theo Walcott.

August

Kieran made his senior England debut in August. The left back played the second half of the Three Lions' friendly against Hungary at Wembley. He was again selected by Fabio Capello ahead of England's first Euro 2012 qualifiers. He didn't feature for the Gunners in August but Wenger insisted that would change as the season progressed. "We have played two games and Kieran had some niggling problems with his groin that we tried to heal completely before we throw him in," said the manager. "He can play left midfield or he can play left back. He will have his amount of games for me, no doubt about that.”

September

Kieran’s month was disrupted by a foot injury he picked up in the Carling Cup tie against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. The full back limped off with what Arsene Wenger feared was a broken metatarsal but a scan showed no fracture and Kieran went on to start against Partizan Belgrade. In that game he conceded a penalty that was saved by Lukasz Fabianski and after the game Kieran praised the mental strength of the goalkeeper. “He is a great speaker and he doesn’t hide away. I thought you saw his qualities tonight and he has shown great character.”

October

Kieran suffered yet more bad luck as he limped off after just 18 minutes during the 4-0 Carling Cup win over Newcastle on October 27. He had previously returned from a foot injury and was an unused substitute during wins over Birmingham, Shakhtar Donetsk and Manchester City. Arsène Wenger predicted that there would be positive news as he waited on results of a scan on his injured knee though the defender missed the rest of the month.

November

Kieran returned to the Arsenal squad for the trip to Everton on November 14 though he was an unused substitute for that game and the 3-2 defeat to Tottenham. He made his first start in three weeks when he lined up against Braga and produced a man of the match performance despite the 2-0 defeat. He came on as an 84th-minute substitute as the Gunners defended their lead against Aston Villa and the defender started the Carling Cup Quarter-Final against Wigan, where he impressed again.

December

Kieran was stretchered off against Partizan at the start of the month with an ankle injury and missed the rest of December. He did however make encouraging progress from the injury and was set for a return at the start of January.

January

Kieran made four starts in January, all in Cup competitions.

February

Kieran made just one appearance in February, starting in the FA Cup against Leyton Orient.

March

Kieran made two appearances in March, starting in the FA Cup against both Leyton Orient and Manchester United.

April

Kieran made just one appearance in April, coming off the bench to help Arsenal to a 3-1 win at Blackpool.

May

Kieran deputised for the injured Gael Clichy and started the final three games of the season.

August

Kieran started Arsenal's 4-1 win over Portsmouth at Emirates Stadium, his only appearance in August.

September

Kieran Gibbs was an unused substitute in five of the Gunners' six fixtures in September. However, the defender played 90 minutes in the 2-0 home victory over West Brom in the Carling Cup.

October

Kieran opened the scoring for England Under-21s as the Three Lions defeated Macedonia 6-3 in a UEFA Championship qualifier. Gibbs also started the games against Birmingham and Liverpool, with manager Arsène Wenger saying this could be a big year for the defender. "It is a big season for Kieran," said Wenger. "For him now it is to consistently play. He will play games this year."

November

Kieran made three appearances for Arsenal in November but limped off with a foot injury in England Under-21s’ 0-0 draw with Lithuania. He returned just a week later against Standard Liege but fractured his first metatarsal in the match, ruling him out for three months.

December

Kieran was sidelined throughout December after he had surgery on an ankle injury sustained in November's 2-0 win over Standard Liege. He is expected to be out until the spring. "Kieran is doing very well," said the Frenchman on December 3. "I had him on the phone and it [his ankle] looked to be completely fine [after the surgery]."

January

Kieran was dealt a massive blow in January when he was ruled out for the rest of the season. The defender suffered a fracture to his first metatarsal on his left foot during the Champions League match game against Standard Liege. The fracture failed to heal satisfactorily and to ensure a complete recovery Kieran underwent an operation in January.

February

Kieran's recovery from an ankle injury continued but there was some good news for the left back when Arsène Wenger admitted that he might return before the summer. “There is a little chance [that Gibbs will be fit before the end of the season] if all goes well now,” said the manager. “I don’t know yet [if he will play enough] because I cannot give you any date of his return to football."

March

Kieran was unable to play in March as he continued his recovery from an ankle injury.

April

Kieran continued his recovery from an ankle injury which has kept him out of action since November.

May

Kieran was an unused substitute in the defeat at Blackburn. It was the first time he had featured in an Arsenal squad since sustaining an ankle injury during a Champions League match against Standard Liege in November. Kieran was also an unused substitute against Fulham on the final day of the Premier League season.

April

Gael Clichy’s back injury meant that April was something of a breakthrough month for Kieran. The youngster played 90 minutes in the last six fixtures of the month, including the FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley on Saturday 18. On April 22, Under-18s manager Steve Bould paid tribute to Kieran’s progress. I think Kieran’s progression is an inspiration for each and every one of our kids to see the level that he has reached,” Bould told Arsenal.com. “It gives all of us at the Academy hope – staff included.”

May

Kieran missed the month’s first fixture against Portsmouth but returned to start all four of May’s remaining games. The youngster made a costly slip in Arsenal’s Champions League Semi-Final defeat against Manchester United but received words of support from a lot of his squad-mates. Kolo Toure said: “A mistake can happen to anybody, it can happen to the best players. I think he has been outstanding this season when he has come in and he has played great, great football for us.”