The West Brom defender explained following his £5m move to the Hawthorns that he was a huge fan of manager Tony Pulis and felt he could improve his game after 13 years coming through the ranks at Arsenal under Wenger.
“Obviously it is different to what I have had before so I feel like he can develop certain areas of my game that may need working on and help me progress,” Gibbs said.
Similarly, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain took a pay cut because he felt he could improve at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, but Wenger merely scoffed when I expressed concern that players these days felt they could get a better footballing education elsewhere.
“Look!” he said, exasperated. “You look at the players who performed here and left. You come back to me after.” So I have done.
And those that have left the Emirates since it became the club’s home in the summer of 2006 tend to have done very well indeed. Nine European trophies and 18 major league titles won between them.
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Similar honours collected by those that stayed behind? Not a single one.
“We think it is a good deal,” Pulis said. “He is only 27 so he’s got a lot left in the tank. His focus now should be on trying to improve and to become a very good player for West Bromwich Albion.
“He felt personally it was time to have a new challenge which was great. He has taken to the mental side of it as well, in respect of avoiding injuries and preparation for training.
“We are fortunate enough to have got the deal done. Now it is up to all of us, him and ourselves, to make sure we try to get the best out of him.”
But Wenger remained dismissive of the notion that under a technician like Pulis, Gibbs, who has 10 England caps, might become better versed in the art of defending.
“He will have more to defend maybe; West Brom are a team who focus more on defending,” the Frenchman said. “We are a team that goes forward. He is an intelligent player who knows how to defend well.
“Learning is an attitude in life. It doesn’t depend on your geographical state, but more of your attitude in your brain. Are you ready to question yourself to see if you can improve? Of course you can improve every day until the last day of your life.”