Arsenal’s Mathieu Debuchy will play at centre-back for the first time in his career against his former club Newcastle, but Arsene Wenger isn’t worried…
Arsene Wenger has revealed that Mathieu Debuchy has zero experience playing at centre-back, but may be deployed there against Newcastle on Saturday, according to the Mirror.
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The French defender has had just 24 hours to learn how to be a centre-back, but with Arsenal’s injury list piling up the manager has very few options.
“Debuchy has never played there, I asked him already,” Wenger said.
“The solution I have to decide will not be ideal. It will be a gamble. But there is not a massive difference between right-back and centre-back.”
With Laurent Koscielny injured and Calum Chambers suspended, the Gunners have just one recognised central defender in Per Mertesacker. Nacho Monreal has been filling in for most of the season, but Debuchy has been drafted in with the Spaniard also picking up an injury.
The former Newcastle man is just returning from injury himself, with 78 minutes under his belt in midweek against Galatasaray.
He will be hoping to put in a good showing against his old club, but he will have to adapt to his new role quickly if he wants to do so.
Newcastle’s in form striker Papiss Cisse currently has the best goals per minute ratio in the Premier League, and Debuchy will want to try and put a dent in that record.