Kieran Gibbs played 200 times for Arsenal

NOT many players rack up more than 200 matches in the Arsenal red and white. If they do, then they usually go down as club heroes.

But as Kieran Gibs appeared to call it away from the pitch at the age of 33, there will be an air of unfulfilled promise. There was a time, after all, when it was predicted that he would nail down a regular spot during the Arsene Wenger years at full back. He was capped ten times for England during the peak of his powers, and helped Arsenal win the FA Cup three times although only playing in one of those finals.

Although never a let-down for the Gunners, it did not quite work out as everybody hoped and Gibbs who Wenger had converted as a teenager from his initial left wing position, had a few what could have beens when he finally departed to play for West Bromwich Albion in 2017. The transfer fee was just £7 million.

He played nearly 100 times for the Baggies but in 2021 he signed up for David Beckham’s project to start a new team in Miami – and played under Phil Neville in the pink shirts of Inter Miami.

The high profile nature of the club’s introduction to MLS, however, has produced few fireworks on the pitch and Gibbs admitted he was surprised by the quality in the league and the playing conditions, sometimes meaning sweltering

He has not intention of leaving the United States, however, and has not officially retired.

But Gibbs will be used at the club to present coverage of Inter Miami games as part of the new Apple TV deal.

“I’m delighted to have transitioned into this new exciting role,” he said.