Clichy - Traore is the type of player we need

Gael Clichy believes that Armand Traore could play a key role in Arsenal’s season, proclaiming that the 17-year old is an “amazing” talent.

The praise seems warranted. Traore has all the traits of a modern full-back but, with Clichy seemingly entrenched for the foreseeable future, the fleet-footed Traore has been pushed further up the flank. And the Frenchman wasted little time in showing his prowess on the front foot - who can forget his pin-point cross to Nicklas Bendtner in last season’s League Cup win over Newcastle?

In fact over the last two seasons Traore has turned from hot prospect to Champions League starter, shooting to prominence during the young Gunners’ run to the 2007 Carling Cup Final. Clichy hopes that the emergence of his countryman will help both players to improve.

“He is a really powerful player,” Clichy told Arsenal.com. “He is really fast and a type of player that we need. I hope he can help push me further as a player and that I can drag him up too.

“He is a really amazing player and I hope he will be focused this season because I can see a role for him. I really hope that he will make it.”