Arsene Wenger says he understands the frustration felt by injured defender Mathieu Debuchy but rejects some of his compatriot’s assertions put forward in L’Equipe this week.
The right-back claims he and the boss barely speak aside from greeting each other each day and hinted that Arsenal have blocked moves away from the club.
Asked about the situation ahead of the Gunners’ final game of 2016, Wenger underlined his disappointment with the tone of the interview while confirming that he’s willing to accept offers for the player.
“Yes, of course [we’re open to letting him go]. But we speak, we have communication with all the players.
“It’s a little bit a frustrated article from a player who is injured. You know, when you are injured you cannot play. When he had the opportunities to play, when Bellerin was injured, he was injured. I cannot do anything about that.
“I gave him last year the opportunity to go to Bordeaux on loan but we had nobody coming in for him during the summer period.
“There are some things that are not true in this article, we never blocked him to go to Fiorentina nor Espanyol – they had no interest in him at all. We checked that.
“You have to take this article with a little distance.
It was then put to Wenger that Debuchy may still be nursing annoyance at the fact that a move to Manchester United, mooted this time last year, was blocked.
As you may remember, Wenger went on the record in February stating that it was ‘logical’ to not lend a player to a rival. More recently – in November – L’Equipe revealed further details of the approach claiming Louis van Gaal had proposed a permanent deal, offering the player a five-year contract.
Maintaining that a formal approach to sign the player was not made, Wenger continued: “They [United] have never made an offer for him. It’s completely untrue.
“It is sometimes surprising to hear things like that.”
Given that Wenger rarely calls out his players like this, it’s fair to assume he’s pretty miffed with the way Debuchy is behaving. Having shelled out £12 million, we’re certain to take a pretty hefty loss on the France international, assuming there’s a team ready to pay his not insignificant wages.
Silly boy. Get your head down and work!
There is no one as fair as wenger. Everyone will be given their chance but it’s up to them to take it. Every since bellerin’s breakthrough debuchy has been average at best every time he was available, which was almost never. The fact that United never actually came in for him and that the club were willing to sell him in the summer but no one wanted him, I think it would be best if debuchy kept his mouth shut. Anyways from wengers quotes recently about how Gabriel impressed at right back, I get the feeling Debuchy will bugger off… Read more »
It would do him well to look at Monreal on the other flank. The only way you’ll play is if you put your head down and work hard.
Lets just count our losses on this guy and release him.
Are you for real? Just release a £12m player? A player who actually looked superb in the 25 minutes he played. He has been unlucky with injury and having the best RB in the country ahead of him. He has made some poor comments more than once but he has not exactly said that he hates Wenger or Arsenal and won’t play for us. Also, what message would that send to others? Oh you want out because you fancy a move? Just kick up a bit of a fuss and we’ll give you a free transfer and then you can… Read more »
Play the ball Tom not the man…
In Fairness to Debuchy, Arnautovic also didn’t Play the Ball. But yes, Let’s move in to more uplifting topics…
You can rant all you want but here’s my question. While he is out injured and making terrible comments to the press, is he getting paid as an Arsenal player? If yes, how much and how long does he have left on his contract. What is his current worth in the market considering he hasnt played for club nor country in a while. Is Arsenal likely to play him this season to shoot up his value?
PS, I don’t even know what football manager is.
Agreed. I hope he can rediscover his form and fitness and make it to that French squad again. Best wishes to him. It’s time to let him go even if it be in January. We have others who can fill the RB void if needed
No he doesn’t deserve a free transfer. Lets cash in on the guy and if we can’t then keep him as 3rd choice RB. That prick!
Not like Arsene to be so blunt about a player’s misdoings. Tells you all you need to know about Debuchy really. He hasn’t done anything to repair his damaged reputation caused by last season’s regular media moaning and disinterested performances.
It’s very unusual for Wenger to come out and slate one of his own players. It’s time to cut our losses on Debuchy, and let him go. He’s had an unfortunate run of injuries whilst at Arsenal, but his approach and attitude haven’t endeared him to the fans one bit.
Worst Gooner since Nasri
Let’s not go overboard.
I think you’re forgetting about a certain skunk
At least he scored goals to keep us in top 4.
All this guy has done is get injured and moan.
Assets depreciate in value over time. If Debuchy was a car we bought all those years ago it would now be a rusted heap, sitting on blocks and full of homeless piss. We’re making no loss that’s for sure.
PS I defended him on this site nearly every time he came out bitching for a move, you can blame agents/advisors but at this point he can just fuck off.
I think it would be a brand new shiny car with an engine that breaks down every 500 meters
I think BFG will be paying Debuchy a visit, can imagine quite a big fine for his silly antics.
Debuchy is a good RB but he has been so unlucky. I have never understood how Arnautovich has not been punished to have thrown Debuchy into the stands. Orcnautovich is the one to blame! The worst is that the ref said nothing. It’s normal to throw adversaries out of bounds by pushing them in the back with 2 arms!
I can’t understand that!
If I was Debuchy I’d offer a fee to anyone who’d give that cunt Arnautivic a good and proper twatting for what he did.
This debuchy thing is unimportant background noise
I agree that he needs to move on, however, I also agree that selling/loaning him to a direct rival is not a particularly smart move, especially a player still under contract.
Additionally Debuchy has to accept that for a vast amount of time he has been an Arsenal player he has been injured, let’s not forget who is looking after him medically.
Very disruptive.
This is what’s called a ‘Slap down’ treatment
Let him leave in Jan and let’s focus on Mailtan-Niles as our back up to Bellerin.
Bad agent, silly boy! Class behaviour keeps players in our hearts. An amicable exit would have possibly ensured a home from home in his future endeavours. Hail the RB king Hector.
is this the same l’equipe that, when namedropped by UK news as a source, is often referred to as “respected french sports paper l’equipe”? ?
He readily sold a world class player to a direct rival but apparently this is different, well.
Or perhaps he has learned from his mistake? And this situation isn’t nearly as lucrative? And we are in better financial standing than we were with RVP?
If he had sold Debuchy to Manchester United and we finished below them, people would be rioting.
A sulky Van Persie (captain!) would have been impossible to coax on to the field. You remember that tantrum when Walcott was subbed in that match? Debuchy can moan all he wants, he is not indispensable nowhere as influential. I am all for such wankish behavior being met by indifference by the club. Debuchy had had one strike too many against his name.
Entirely different situation but hey believe what you want. Wenger would have sold him if a real offer came in. It didn’t. Did you read the article? If you don’t believe it Go read it on the Guardian, F365, BBC or Sky. But read slowly and read it twice.
We have good back up for Bellerin with Gabriel. With Mustafi returning to the line up and Metersecker also in the mix (not to mention young HOlding) we are stacked at Cback so Gabriel (who did well at Rback) will have opportunity to back up Bellerin. The Brazilian is comfortable technically and fairly quick plus has a bit of guile which Jenknson lacked. Debuchy’s problem is IMO his commitment. He’s unlucky that when he resolved to finally buckle down to it, he got himself injured. BUt I think his time is up with wear and tear issues. He is also… Read more »
I think that newspaper misquotes a lot of the time and you goons believe everything written as though it is gospel. I think Wenger was dismissing the paper rather than Debuchy.
Ah, at last, someone here has a bit of savvy.