Arsene Wenger says Mathieu Debuchy is not ready for the intensity of the Champions League but believes the full-back could challenge for a first team place in the next couple of weeks.
The Frenchman stepped his recuperation from a calf problem on Friday playing and scoring for Arsenal’s under-23 side as they beat their Sp*rs’ counterparts 2-0.
In the absence of Hector Bellerin, ruled out for a month with ankle ligament damage, Debuchy might usually be considered a candidate to replace the 21-year-old, however, the boss insists there’s still work to be done on the training ground.
“He’s close now. He has been injured many times and he’s had setbacks. He played only 70 minutes in the under-23s. I was hesitating to include him tomorrow [against PSG].
“For me though, he’s still not had enough competition for me to throw him into a game with the intensity of the Champions League and [for him] to be comfortable.
“He still needs one or two more weeks. If he gets through this week well, I think he’ll come back into the group. He had a few setbacks that make me a bit hesitant.”
On Saturday, Arsene Wenger gave Carl Jenkinson was the nod at right-back and looks set to continue with the England international for the foreseeable future. It’s a level of competition for places that satisfies the boss.
“Arsenal is one of the ten biggest clubs in the world, you cannot think that you have no competition,” he added.
“We are in a highly competitive world, we’ve chosen this job and we have to accept it. We cannot be pampered and think we have the right to be there.
“It’s competition – that’s what we want, that’s what we love and that’s what we go for.
“Mathieu Debuchy has a fantastic mentality, he’s a great competitor and he will give a tough time to even Hector Bellerin when he’s back.”
So, a bit more time on the sidelines for Debuchy who could well look for a move in January. Earlier today, it was revealed by L’Equipe that Manchester United were so desperate to sign him last January that they didn’t just approach Arsenal with a loan offer but a 5-year permanent deal for the player.
On the plus side Mathieu, at least you don’t have to work with Jose Mourinho or see Wayne Rooney naked.
I don’t think, Debuchy will ever play another important game for Arsenal..
We have a good squad on the right side and the way he behaved last year, I’m sure Wenger is really reluctant to play him
I have to disagree with you. Remember when we all thought we have seen the last of Bendtner, and he made a surprising come back. Sometimes, the fan’s perspectives is different from the perspectives of the management.
Same could be said about our coq. Was almost certain he would never put on the arsenal shirt again. Now hes the first on the team sheet.
Dont write off anybody, i think debuchy has his part to play during the christmas period.
Fair point
Even though I’m quite dissapointed by him, if he helps the club to win the league with a few good games this year, I’m more than happy to admit I was wrong
I remember when he arrived, most of us Gooners were excited…
Oh how time flies
In his first season with us and before the Orcs ruined his shoulder, he was very good. A replacement for Sacary Bagna (thanks for the laugh Kammy!), we all thought of him as an actual improvement and this was justified as he ousted le Sac from the French team. His attitude has not been great since but I still believe he’s a good player and that we have 2 excellent backups to Hector in him and Jenko.
So true. Loads of people seem to have forgotten the ‘Bacary who?’ Comments in the first few months of his career. I do think he’s been unlucky.
Unlucky, and yet where would Bellerin be now.. Playing U23 games against sp*rs no doubt. A true role-reversal.
I think Wenger’s “Bring-on-all-the-fullbacks” Tactic is much stronger with Debuchy available.
ST
Gibbs 10 Bellerin
CM CM
Money CB CB Debuchy
GK
Here is me hoping we have to hold on to some important and decisive leads against big teams.
Like literally have no idea how this guy is still an Arsenal player. To win a title, you need all the players across the whole squad to be bang up for it week in week out – and I just don’t think he is at all, its fairly evident he doesn’t want to be here any more – I would be slightly worried about his commitment levels if he got a shot at first team action. I think if there is any business done in January we should be looking to get rid of this guy and maybe getting someone… Read more »
I’m surprised Wenger is even mentioning him in the same breath as Bellerin. He surely can’t be part of our long-term plan.
At 30 years of age, I doubt it.
Haha very true.
Might be the shop window.
Wenger’s probably putting a nice shiny bow on him. He’s both money savvy and sympathetic to his players. Get a better return on the investment, and a better gig for Debuchy, who let’s not forget took those career damaging injuries playing for the Arsenal. And since we’re playing a french club next, what better opportunity to talk about the french player?
Having scored against Spurs, whatever U23,U21,U17 or U5 team that was, imposes my respect. For whom is it not a dream?
You got all my respect Mathieu, a massive thank you for that.
I’d give you an upvote but it’s 5-2.
Someone ruined it 🙁
We may need him soon. Jenkinson for all the commitment (laudable) is a very limited player. OTOH Debuchy should be on paper a better/experienced player but not sure where his head has been. If I were him, I would highly doubt there would be anything other than to finish the career strongly at the Arsenal given his current age. He needs to kuckle down and take this oppotunity. We can benefit from a performing Debuchy. In absence of Bellerin, we miss width on the right. This was one reason I felt the Ox may be useful as he would afford… Read more »
Let’s not be foolish, if there is one thing that the Ox has been consistently criticized for, it is that he loses the ball too easily. We’ve suffered from that when he played as a winger or through the middle…let’s not compound it by putting him at right back.
To be fair, though, Ox was great at right back against Man Ure.
Yep! Pace aplenty but lacks tidiness on the ball. When it works it works wonders but when it doesn’t it’s too frustrating in the long run and it has a tendency to not work a lot.
Debuchy is a fine player when fit and dedicated and I reckon he can still offer us that for another couple of years if he wants to.
I love it how the add I got in this article was for ‘boohooMan.com’. Seems fitting
my ads on here today were for 8XL “clothing for man sized men” and single muslim dot com – but i’m a medium sized man with a wife
I always get ads for dating Russian and Arab women. I just became single again. Should I click on these?