Arsene Wenger reveals player departure that hurt him more than selling Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool

Arsene Wenger has been reluctant to see two of his
established stars leave the club during the summer
but one in particular feels like he has lost a 'family
member'.
When Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made a deadline day
to Liverpool for £35million a number of Arsenal fans
wondered if it was the right decision selling him to a
direct Premier League rival.
But the Arsenal boss was even more upset to see
Kieran Gibbs move away from the Gunners after he
completed a move to West Brom during the summer.
Gibbs is set to face his former boss for the first time
when he makes an emotional return to Emirates
Stadium on Monday night.
After signing for the Gunners as a 15-year-old and
making his way through the ranks where he went on
to make 230 appearances for the club, Wenger says
losing him was like saying goodbye to a member of
the family.
Wenger said: "Ideally you want stability and you want
players who carry the values for the generations.
"Overall it's true that with Gibbs (it hurt) more than
Chamberlain because he had been educated at
Arsenal from the age of 10.
"When he arrived he was a left-winger. I transformed
him into a full-back because he was not necessarily
rated as a guy who would make it as a left 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.
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"(Academy players) carry the values that you think
are important, which are based on mental qualities,
humility, respect and commitment, and as well
football qualities which means you always try to play
in a positive way. Plus real team play and focusing on
a collective way."
Wenger insists it was a mutual decision for Gibbs to
leave the club and he could not stand in his way as
he faced a major battle with Nacho Monreal and Sead
Kolasinac to win his place in the side.
When asked if he felt like losing a family member,
Wenger added: "Of course. And I believe that for
(players that leave) it must be difficult to make that
step as well."
"He did not ask to leave, it was a mutual decision. He
wanted to play - he's 27, or 28. You want to play at
that age.
"It was a difficult decision but on the other hand
when a guy has given you so many years you have to
accept that if he is not sure to play.
"It is a fact that we have got Kolasinac, you cannot
keep three left-backs (along with Nacho Monreal)."

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