Gael's bright outlook

Nothing Clichy has done so far has proved him wrong. "Yes, I am happy with the way things have gone for me," he said. "But I think I can do more, I can play better. I must work a lot at my positional sense and I must build up my strength. I know when a striker comes at me it is difficult when the guy is strong."

Clichy has a slender frame and pencil-thin legs. But any weakness was not apparent at The Hawthorns under the muscular assault of Albion's powerful team. But Clichy insists: "No, I must get stronger. I have to work hard in training and I watch Ashley Cole and see what he does because he is a fantastic player. Every day I try to progress."

A willingness to learn is part of his make-up. His English improves every day, as does his football, and he has one clear objective. "I must get better," he said, though he doesn't want to capitalise on any injury to Cole. He wouldn't wish that on anyone.

"If he is suspended - not injured, I prefer suspended - I want the boss to have the confidence in me to give me the chance to help the team."

When Clichy has been given his chance, he has not disappointed. And those openings have come a lot quicker than he expected, despite making a favourable impression on the pre-season tour to Austria.

"I have played more often than I thought I would," he said. "I didn't think I would be playing for the first team as quickly as this. I thought maybe some games, but mostly I would be on the bench from where I can watch Ashley and learn.

"The main thing I've learnt is that you have to concentrate when you play in the first team - concentrate all the time. If you make one mistake at this level, it can often be a goal.

"The manager has shown great confidence in me and I want to show he was right to have that confidence.

"On the field it's good to have experienced players like Martin Keown and Ray Parlour. They talk and give advice like they did on Tuesday."

Coincidentally, Clichy was born in the Paris suburb of Clichy, but grew up in the French rugby heartland of Toulouse. For him football was always pre-eminent and his hero was Thierry Henry.

With so many French players at Highbury, it is no surprise that he took more than a passing interest in the red and white of Arsenal.

"This, for me, is the best club, the club I always followed when I was in France," he said.

"I loved Arsenal before I came here and now I love them even more. It is the club of my dreams."