Arsenal Should Sell Mathieu Debuchy

Arsenal full back Mathieu Debuchy has been fazed out of the starting line up this season. Now, he should be sold by the club.

Full back has long been a strength of the Arsenal squad. This season, the two back up full backs were Kieran Gibbs and Mathieu Debuchy himself, two Premier League quality players. And yet, neither could get a run in the team due to the performances of both starters in their stead.

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At left back Nacho Monreal, the often maligned Nacho Monreal, has been phenomenal. Showing defensive solidarity, good positional awareness and an ability to get forward and support Alexis Sanchez ahead of him, Monreal has now solidified himself as one of the best left backs in the league, and certainly the starting left back for Arsenal.

On the opposite side, Bellerin has been a sensation. The young Spaniard has been one of Arsenal’s best players all year, and his improvement over the past season is the main reason for Debuchy’s decreased role in the squad.

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The first thing to note about Bellerin’s game is his sheer pace. Both going forward and defensively, Bellerin not only possesses great speed, but utilizes it when necessary. More than just being fast, however, Bellerin is smart. Many simply fast players have little positional awareness and rely on their pace to recover. Bellerin, on the contrary, is positionally adept and only uses his pace when necessary.

It has been a terrific season from Bellerin, and there is only a growing disparity between he and Debuchy. Moreover, Bellerin at the tender age of 21 has his best years before him. Debuchy, on the other hand, is already north of 30, and is only going to lose what little athletic ability he has.

And that is the key in this decision.

Arsenal’s system is physically demanding of their full backs, asking them to contribute in an attacking manner while also not neglecting their defensive duties. Bellerin is capable of such physical demands, but whenever Debuchy has taken the pitch, he looks tired and, quite frankly, past it.

Debuchy does not offer any first team improvements, so the only reason to keep him in the squad would be for depth reasons. However, with Carl Jenkinson returning from yet another loan deal at West Ham United, Callum Chambers and even Francis Coquelin, if injuries take their toll, to fill in, Arsenal have more than capable depth.

Debuchy now offers little to this squad. He isn’t good enough for the first team, isn’t needed for depth and is only getting older by the season. His role has decreased so much over this past year that he was “annoyed” when his move to Manchester United was blocked in the January transfer window. Arsene Wenger and Arsenal would be wise to cut their losses while they’re ahead and sell the French international. He would still be a useful player for a mid-table Premier League, so there is some value that Arsenal could perhaps tap into and receiver a return on investment.

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Nonetheless, Debuhcy’s days at Arsenal are numbered, and Arsene Wenger would be wise to sell him, bring in more funds, although not much, and replenish his squad with more youth and enthusiasm.