With confirmation that Carl Jenkinson is set for a move to Crystal Palace in the next couple of days, you’d think that keeping Mathieu Debuchy as back-up for Hector Bellerin would be something of a no-brainer, despite the French international’s public unease with his lack of playing time.
However, Arsene Wenger hasn’t ruled out the possibility of the 31 year making a move away in the January transfer window.
Even with Bellerin currently dealing with an ankle problem that will keep him out of tomorrow’s game with Swansea, the Arsenal manager wasn’t categorically minded to keep the £12m signing from Newcastle in the summer of 2014.
Asked if the departure of Jenkinson would mean Debuchy staying, Wenger paused before saying, “The door is not definitely closed, but it depends on the quality of the opportunities he will have.
Wenger cited Bellerin, and Gabriel’s ability to play there, as reasons for potentially letting him go, but if the Spaniard continues to struggle with his ankle problem, there won’t be any natural replacement in the squad.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles was pressed into action there against Preston, and it may be a case that Wenger sees him as a player who can do the job in the short-term if required.
That’s crazy, what could he possibly have against Debuchy?
And why does Matthieu have the nickname Douchey?
If he feels that maitland niles is some sort of back up RB, he is mistaken IMO. The sort of mistakes that have cost us titles in recent years.
Given Debuchy’s recent health record I wouldn’t disagree, he’s not exactly someone you could rely on to be healthy should Hector twitch his hammy, and even if he is it will take him a while to get back to his best, if that ever happens. His roster spot is best allocated elsewhere, Gabriel’s done a decent job there mostly and while Maitland-Niles is quite inexperienced, so was Hector a couple of years ago. You have to give them a chance sooner or later…
I would rather give a chance to someone who is an actual RB or keep Debuchy. Playing AML there is not going to serve him or us too much as he doesn’t look comfortable playing there. Gabriel is solid defensively as RB but offers nothing offensively. Letting Jenkinson go was understandable as he was really poor every time he played but to leave us short again in a position when we don’t have to sell anyone is strange. This kind of unnecessary gamble is about to ruin our already small chances to silverware this season, again. And I’m usually optimistic… Read more »
For an optimistic man, basing our chances on silverware on Jenks going to Palace is a bit far-fetched.
I think you missed the point I was trying to make about keeping at least Debuchy as cover. Many matches to play and an injury to Bellerin would be a bye bye to our hopes of winning something. Can’t see us beating Bayern, Real or Barcelona on the CL with Gabriel or AML as a RB? (Though would be glad if we did) I like AML but he struggled against Preston at times.
Strong words coming from Chamakh! Players, like most humans, aren’t born with a position stamped on their birth certificate or genetic programming that limits them from playing other ones*. They’re given one as they go through the academy and sometimes it turns out to be the wrong one, or that they’re equally good in another one. And maybe that other position is where they get their break and impress. Iwobi was never a winger but he sure seems to be doing a decent job there… and remember when Alexis wasn’t a striker? * At least not yet, who knows what… Read more »
I get what you are saying and agree that it applies to many players. Still in this case it is pretty evident that Gabriel lacks offensive threat and AML had trouble defending against Preston of all teams (though they played a good match) which means that we will be limited in either direction if we are in a situation that we have to play one of them. Debuchy is still a former France international and if he can keep himself fit would be a good backup for the rest of the season. We don’t have anything to lose by keeping… Read more »
Maitland-Niles is the worst case scenario there and it’s obvious it doesn’t scare Arsene.I don’t think it’s bad too to be honest
Maitland-Niles was really quite effective going forward against Preston – good delivery. If we’re playing Kos & Mustafi at CB and a diligent attacking wide player on the right he could be quite exciting backup.
Okay, first off, with or without Hector, we are very unlikely to beat Real, Bayern or Barcelona. Secondly, just about everyone had a poor game at Preston, however, Maitland-Niles was not the worst player in an Arsenal shirt that day. Debuchy wants Hector’s spot in the team and that’s not about to happen unless through injury. That desire can be quite disruptive to the squad. Debuchy is still a very good player and a move is also very good for him. Keeping him if a good offer comes in is very unfair and selfish for the player. Gabriel can play… Read more »
Sell Debuchy, keep Jenko till the summer and then (sadly) let him go if he wants.
What happens if Hector gets injured for a couple of months?
We have Gabriel and Holding.
Metersecker is also back in the middle with Mustafi and Koscielny as main partnership.
We have PLENTY of options.
Is Debuchy likely to play much anyway due to his injury?
If not, may as well sell him anyway to get him off the wage bill.
If Jenks is going as well i wonder if there might be a right back purchase in the offing (whether it be January or the summer).
All speculation so may as well just wait and see what transpires.
Unlikely at Rback. Chambers will also be returning to fold in the summer. He was excellent at Rback for Soton which is his natural position. If Wenger is happy with Gabriel in at Cback plus HOlding developing, Per may still retire end of season. Calum then has a slot with Bellerin. Or perhaps Wenger may feel Chmabers has made good progression at Cback with Boro and keep him there with Gabriel shifted to Rback alternate. Or perhaps both of them will compete as Rback alternate and as third/fourth Cback with Holding. Lback was more a problem. We now have Cohen… Read more »
If anything my bigger worry would be central midfield. Coquelin is fortunately on the mend and imminent. Otherwise Granit is lynchpin for us and a bit exposed to injury debacle at the moment. Next to Granit, Ramsey can perform the task proviso he is more careful to pick when he goes forward attacking the box (which is his natural instinct) I think another hitherto unexplored option is Iwobi who shows good close control, ability to protect the ball, strength and can carry the ball from deep. With Santi still out and Elneny in Africa, we will have to shepard our… Read more »
Debuchy probably quite expensive to keep and wasn’t impressing anyway. Jenko going is likely to be AW being kind and letting him have a sure future. We do need Bellerin cover that is not AMN, Gabriel is best option but why not pick up one of those good defenders we keep seeing in Championship or lower down the Prem as cheap back up.
Jenkinson “loss of confidence” is frankly Wenger being kind and saying he is “not good enough”.
I think we should sell him. If he’s discontent and not in right frame of mind, so be it. We have Gabriel who looks more than capable of backing up Bellerin. In the middle, Mustafi and Koscielny are main partnership but the experienced Per is also there plus there is Holding who can also come in as emergency Rback should BOTH Gabriel and Bellerin not be available. In the summer, we have Chambers returning we can assess if he should continue to be placed and developed as Cback or revert to his original position at Rback (as he did with… Read more »
The problem with ‘getting rid of’ Debuchy is not many clubs will want to match his wages considering he is older and injury prone. Which is why many people think its easy to get rid of players but not as simple as they think. Bendtner, Chamakh were on our books for several season on various loans. Easy to say buy this player because he is ‘good enough’ but if they don’t work out, you have the other problem in cutting them off the wage list. Not many clubs want to pick up non performing players/damaged goods. Particularly as we have… Read more »