It was reported earlier in the week that Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy had been subject to a loan bid from Turkish side Galatasaray and that Arsenal would consider the offer. However since then we have seen very little movement on the deal and it’s meant that some fans have wondered if Wenger is considering keeping the Frenchman after all.
Debuchy is very much out of favour at the Emirates given that firstly he is behind Hector Bellerin in the starting line up (as well as supposedly behind Jenkinson if he was fit) and also that Debuchy caused quite a stir when he left the club on loan last season, brandishing Wenger for not giving him a chance to play. The outburst meant that despite having only agreed a six month loan with Bordeaux last January, rather than a permanent move, many still expected the 31 year old to be moving swiftly on this summer.
That of course hasn’t been the case however and in fact we’ve seen Debuchy feature quite heavily during pre-season, so much so that perhaps Wenger is considering keeping the player after all. It was previously understood that Debuchy would be surplus to Arsenal’s requirements for the upcoming season, after Bellerin proved that he won’t be budging from the first choice spot, whilst Carl Jenkinson will also likely stay at the club after two years of experience away on loan. It means that there is no expected future for Debuchy at Arsenal, but given that Jenkinson will remain injured for a few months yet and that Debuchy has actually been relatively impressive in the pre-season matches, then I think he may have earned himself another chance in Arsene Wenger’s eyes.
In my opinion, I think if Jenkinson wasn’t injured, then Debuchy would’ve been sold straight away. However given the extent and length of Jenkinson’s injury, it’s important we have backup at right back just in case Bellerin is injured or suspended. Of course Chambers can play there as well, but he isn’t highly impressive in the role and so I reckon Debuchy may stay until January, before Arsenal look to ship the Frenchman out of the club for good.
Can he still do a job for us or should we get rid of him?
By AH