Arsene Wenger: Losing Gibbs to West Brom was harder than letting Oxlade-Chamberlain join Liverpool

Gibbs had been at Arsenal since he was a teenager, but he joined the Baggies in a £5million deal this summer after becoming third-choice left-back when Sead Kolasinac signed on a free transfer.

Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Liverpool for £40m, but in the build-up to Monday night's game with Albion, Wenger admitted losing his left-back hurt more.

“He did not ask to leave, it was a mutual decision,” revealed Wenger. “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 it.

“It is a fact that we have got Kolasinac, you cannot keep three left-backs.”

Gibbs joined Arsenal from Wimbledon's academy as a 14-year-old left winger, before Wenger converted him to a full-back.

He won three FA Cups and a Community Shield with Arsenal, but left the Emirates in search of first-team football, which he is now getting under Tony Pulis.

However, Wenger admitted it was a wrench to let him go.

“Ideally you want stability and you want players who carry the values for the generations,” he said.

“Overall it’s true that with Gibbs (it hurt) more than Chamberlain because he had been educated at Arsenal.

“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.”

Wenger admitted it would be weird to see Gibbs in a different shirt, but the Gunners boss could throw a wealth of attacking talent at the England international's new defence.

Mesut Ozil is back available after missing Arsenal's last three games with a knee injury, meaning Wenger could play him and Alexis Sanchez together for the first time this season.

The likelihood of that happening has been magnified by a groin injury to Danny Welbeck that has ruled out the forward.

Defender Calum Chambers and midfielder Francis Coquelin are also injured, but Jack Wilshere could feature on the bench after playing 90 minutes for Arsenal in their 1-0 win over Doncaster in the Carabao Cup.

"West Brom have a way to deal with everybody that is a strong defensive basis," said Wenger.

"They are strong on quick transition from defence to attack, they are very strong on set pieces, solid defensively - it’s tough to score against them. It’s a team that requires full concentration."