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Matt Debuchy Ruled Out of Euro 2016
I can still remember Matt Debuchy’s first game for the Gunners in the 2014 Community Shield. Ironically, the man Debuchy replaced was playing for the opposing team and the Gunners went on to win the game with a commanding three-goal margin. He also had a solid league debut and earned his first red card for the club in a Champions League playoff against Besiktas. For the most part, he looked like a good replacement for Bacary Sagna as he marauded the right flank providing assistance offensively and defensively.
Then injury struck. In a very unfortunate incident at the Emirates in September, he damaged his ankle ligaments and was administered Oxygen on the pitch before he was stretched off. Following a successful surgery, Debuchy was ruled out for three months and that paved the way for young Hector Bellerin to make his breakthrough for the Gunners. Debuchy made his comeback and struggled to break into the first team setup but due to paucity of options in central defense, the Frenchman found himself playing as a center back and even scored a nice header in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield. When he finally got a run-out on the right, he was shoved into the stands by Marko Arnautovic, dislocating his shoulder in the process.
That’s when Debuchy’s Arsenal career went downhill. In a season where a competitive team like Arsenal plays up to 50 – 60 games, the Frenchman managed just 15 games and with Bellerin rising to glory, it was going to be interesting to see how Wenger was to manage both players in the 2015/16 season. With Carl Jenkinson shipped out to West Ham, the right back berth was between the elder Frenchman and the young Spaniard but the manager favored Bellerin and Debuchy found games hard to come by.
As expected from a player that has been used to playing regular football in his Lille and Newcastle days, Debuchy resorted to moaning and spoke about the possibility of leaving in January. He harbored hopes of featuring in Euro 2016 and with the likes of Bacary Sagna and Christoph Jallet ahead of him in the French national team pecking order, he needed regular football to convince Didier Deschamps to give him a chance.
After notching up nine appearances for Girondins Bordeaux since his move from Arsenal in the winter transfer window, Debuchy has suffered a thigh injury in the 1-1 draw with PSG and will be unavailable for selection in the summer’s tournament. Bordeaux manager, Ulrich Rame, confirmed his absence at a press conference.
In addition to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck, Debuchy would join the list of Gunners that would miss the soccer fiesta in France this summer. With Jenkinson returning to the club (still injured) and Calum Chambers still in the fray, Debuchy will have to make a decision on his future this summer, even though he still has two years left on his contract with Arsenal.
Sayonara.
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Southampton Preview + Debuchy Joins Girondins Bordeaux
After enduring a stuttering start to the new year in the Premier League, Arsenal will hope to return to winning ways in the competition. Two points from a possible nine was a poor return for Arsene Wegner’s side but the smell of revenge would be in the air when Southampton visit the Emirates tonight. The last time both sides met, the Gunners were on the wrong end of some thrashing as Ronald Koeman’s side finished the game with four unreplied goals at St. Mary’s.
With the Gunners recording a victory over Burnley in the FA Cup last week, the players will be hoping to gather momentum to start a streak of victories that would be needed to win the Premier League, even though they face stiff opposition from Manchester City and Leicester, that have clashes against Sunderland and Liverpool respectively.
The Gunners will have to be weary about the aerial threat Southampton will pose as the club has scored a league-high 10 headed goals in the Premier League so far in 2015/16 and they have also fired in the most crosses from open play in the league this season (436). When both sides met earlier the season, Southampton converted two headed chances from Virgil van Dijk and Jose Fonte but one was ruled out while the other went in.
Arsenal Team News
Wenger made nine changes from the team that lost to Chelsea, so he’s set to welcome back his key players for what will prove to be an all-important game for the Gunners.
Alexis Sanchez and Francis Coquelin got some first team football action, and the Chilean can be proud of his output over the weekend. Sadly, the Gunners will be without Tomas Rosicky, that has picked up another injury. The manager gave some favorable news about Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck but they are not still available for selection.
Arsenal Injury / Suspension News
Jack Wilshere (ankle), Danny Welbeck (knee), Santi Cazorla (knee), Tomas Rosicky (thigh)
Arsenal Predicted Lineup
Southampton Team News
The Saints were not in action over the weekend following their third round defeat to Crystal Palace so Koeman has a very fresh squad to select from as they were given breathers over the weekend. The Saint’s boss was delighted that his new signing, Charlie Austin, was able to score on his debut and he would be hoping for more of the same. Austin banged in 18 goals in the Premier League for QPR before they suffered the ignominy of relegation but the R’s cashed in on the forward when he signalled his intentions of not signing a new deal.
Since the return of injured goalie, Fraser Forster, to the side, the Saints have found some defensive stability and the goalie will want to continue his run of clean sheets that currently stands at three. The last time Forster featured at the Emiratesm he had a Man of the Match performances with a string of saves that kept the Gunners at bay till the death.
Southampton Injury / Suspension News
Florin Gardos (knee), Steven Davis (knock), Graziano Pelle (knee), Jay Rodriguez (foot)
Southampton Predicted Lineup
Team Form
Arsenal
- Last Five Games: W D D L W
- Last Result: Arsenal 2-1 Burnley
- Leading Goalscorer: Olivier Giroud (18)
Southampton
- Last Five Games: L L W W W
- Last Result: Manchester United 0-1 Southampton
- Leading Goalscorer: Graziano Pelle (9)
Gooner Daily predicts a 3 – 0 win.
Elsewhere, the Gunners will be without experienced full back, Mathieu Debuchy, that has moved to Girondins Bordeaux on loanin his quest for regular first team football ahead of Euro 2016. Debuchy has been on the fringes since his return from injury and he has featured just seven times this season. Debuchy has been given the No. 24 jersey with first choice right back, Milan Gajic, wearing the No. 2 jersey.
With Gajic currently injured, Debuchy would slot directly into the team and I expect the fullback to even retain his place when Gajic returns. In their last 4-0 win over Rennes, Bordeaux manager, Willy Sagnol, had to field a defensive midfielder, Andre Biyogo Poko, as an auxiliary right back, so in Debuchy, he has a full back that can offer something to the team.
Currently, Bacary Sagna and Christophe Jallet are currently above Debuchy in the French national team pecking order, so he has five months to impress head coach, Didier Deschamps, ahead of the forthcoming European Championships that will be hosted in France.
I don’t see the fullback returning to North London though, with Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers and Carl Jenkinson challenging for a first team berth. Bordeaux are currently seven in Ligue 1, so they stand a chance of qualifying to the Europa League with PSG, Monaco and the season’s surprise package, Angers currently on the Champions League positions.
I wish Debuchy all the best at Bordeaux.
Sayonara.
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What Impact Does Jenkinson’s Injury have on Debuchy’s Future?
Last season, Carl Jenkinson’s stock rose as a footballer under the tutelage of Sam Allardyce. He was an ever-present in the West Ham side that season, missing only six Premier League games. He also played a significant role in their FA Cup campaign, up until their elimination.
At the start of this season, he returned to Arsenal but with Hector Bellerin clearly Arsene Wenger’s first choice and Matt Debuchy still in the reckoning, a decision had to be made about Jenkinson’s future and he was sent back to familiar surroundings, as West Ham took the lad for a second loan spell.
Under Slaven Bilic, things haven’t been that straightforward for Jenkinson. He suffered loss of form and he has featured consistently under the new West Ham management. Over at North London, Debuchy has grown discontent in playing second fiddle to Bellerin and has been trying to facilitate an exit from the Emirates. It’s quite a dicey situation, bearing in mind that the only cover for Bellerin would be Calum Chambers, a relatively inexperienced lad that has been tried in several positions.
However, news emanating from East London is that Jenkinson has suffered a cruciate ligament injury and could be sidelined for nine to 10 months. This is terrible news for Jenkinson as his campaign has come to an end but looking at the situation holistically, Jenkinson will not be available deep into the 2016/17 season, so will the Gunners allow Debuchy to leave the club?
In Chambers, Wenger has a good deputy for Bellerin but with the experienced French defender hell bent on a potential move away, coupled with Jenkinson’s current predicament, Wenger would have a decision to make.
I wish Corporal Jenkinson the best and a speedy recovery.
Sayonara.
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