UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Clichy finding his feet

Arsenal FC's Gaël Clichy tells uefa.com how he is learning from "the world's best left-back".

By Matthew Spiro

Arsenal FC defender Gaël Clichy admits he has been "living a dream" since he moved to Highbury from AS Cannes 18 months ago.

Positive impact
Since Arsenal signed a 17-year-old Nicolas Anelka from Paris Saint-Germain FC in 1997, it has become fashionable for Premiership clubs to cross the Channel in search of France's brightest young talent. However, few that have moved to England can claim to have made as positive an impact as Clichy has in north London.

Championship medal
The France Under-21 international played 12 league matches last year - enough to earn him a championship medal - and has already featured ten times in the Premiership this term, either filling in for left-back Ashley Cole or slotting in on the left side of midfield.

'Familiar faces'
Clichy is thrilled with his progress but admits he still pinches himself occasionally to make sure he is not dreaming. "It's all happened so quickly," he told uefa.com. "I can still remember my first training session. It was a terrifying experience because I saw so many familiar faces but didn't know what to say to any of them. I felt like I was in a dream that I haven't come out of yet."

Boyhood hero
The 19-year-old blushes as he recalls his first meeting with Thierry Henry, the Arsenal striker who Clichy admits used to be his boyhood idol. "Thierry came up to me and introduced himself," he recalled. "I wanted to talk but no words came out of my mouth, so I just stood there grinning!"

Right response
His nerves soon settled, however, and his tenacious style on the pitch quickly earned his team-mates' respect. "I've responded well when the coach has called on me and I feel like I'm starting to impose myself a little," reflected Clichy."

Great mentor
One of Clichy's mentors since he arrived has been Cole. Although the England international, just 24 himself, is blocking the teenager's immediate path into the first team, Clichy insists he is happy to have him at the club. "Along with Roberto Carlos, Cole is the best left-back in the world," he said. "It's great to have Ashley around because I can watch him and learn from him in training every day."

No comparison
Clichy's impressive displays over Christmas - when he started in victories over Portsmouth FC, Fulham FC and Charlton Athletic FC - have prompted comparisons with Cole. The young Frenchman welcomes the comparison, but insists he is a player in his own right. "To be compared with Ashley is a massive compliment," he said. "But I'm Gaël Clichy and I'll always be Gaël Clichy."

Realistic aims
He added: "I'm never going to become a clone of Ashley Cole. At the moment when Ashley's fit he's the first choice - end of story. I'll continue to work hard and try to make that position my own, but he's one of the team's leaders so I have to be realistic."

Big gap
Having watched his side lose a vital home game against United last week, Clichy is well aware that his side are eleven points adrift of league leaders Chelsea FC. "We need them to slip up and right now they don't look like doing it," Clichy admitted.

'Important goal'
He has not, however, given up hope of laying his hands on more silverware. "Of course we're thinking about the [UEFA] Champions League," he said. "Arsenal have never got past the quarter-finals, so putting that record straight has to be an important goal now."