Mathieu Debuchy 'a candidate for Arsenal first-team again' after winning back Arsene Wenger's trust

In contention: Debuchy had seemingly been frozen out of the Arsenal setup
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
James Benge31 October 2017

Arsene Wenger is prepared to give Mathieu Debuchy further chances to prove his worth after his impressive return to the Arsenal side.

Debuchy was a surprise presence in the Gunners squad that travelled to Belgrade for a Europa League tie last summer having been ostracised by Wenger at the end of last year.

Wenger had said before the opening of the January 2017 transfer window that the 32-year-old was free to leave, accusing Debuchy of lying about a failed move to Manchester United.

Summer transfers to Brighton and Nice fell apart but it seemed Debuchy was unlikely to feature again until both Shkodran Mustafi and Calum Chambers were ruled out through injury, after which Wenger gave the former France international starts against Red Star Belgrade and Norwich in the EFL Cup.

Barring a late error in the latter game that should have seen Norwich awarded a penalty, Debuchy has performed credibly, doing enough to earn Wenger’s trust again.

“We are all very pleased for him here because he has gone through some very difficult moments with setbacks,” Wenger said. “The fact that he got through 120 minutes the other night is a huge boost for him. He needs to recover now but from now on, he’ll be a candidate to fight for the team places again.

“Mathieu is absolutely strong and determined as well. He’s a quiet character but a very strong one. I must say he’s 100 per cent a professional player. Everybody in the medical department just says he’s exceptional.

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“Maybe his future is as a centre-back. He has the attributes because, despite his size, he’s very good in the air. You think he couldn’t play centre back because he’s not tall, but if you look at the number of balls he wins in the air, it’s impressive.”

Debuchy will hope to play again the Europa League when Red Star Belgrade visit the Emirates on Thursday, though Chambers is in line to feature having overcome a hip injury.