Arsenal Transfer News: Mathieu Debuchy Admits Pondering Exit, Latest Rumours

Arsenal full-back Mathieu Debuchy has admitted he has considered leaving the Emirates Stadium due to a lack of playing time.

Speaking with L'Equipe (h/t Jamie Sanderson of Metro) the France international revealed he was disappointed not to return to the team for this season ahead of Hector Bellerin following a succession of injury problems in 2014-15:

It is difficult.

Even if I had not played a lot last season, in my head I would return to start after my recovery.

But, at the Community Shield against Chelsea, Wenger chose him, Bellerin.

It was a surprise and a disappointment. Let’s say it crossed my mind (leaving).

But I want to be at Arsenal and to take my place.

In fairness to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, the Gunners turned to Bellerin when there was a scarcity of full-back options, and he responded with some superb performances. While Debuchy provides an assured and much more defensively sound presence on the right of the defence, the Spaniard gives Arsenal a different outlet with his bursts forward.

As we can see here courtesy of WhoScored.com, it was a major breakthrough season for the Spaniard, who was recently called up to the national team for the first time:

It’s a little presumptuous of Debuchy to think he would just walk back into the team. While he’s done well in the games in which he’s played for Arsenal, whenever you’re out of the side, injured or otherwise, a place becomes up for grabs. So credit must go to Bellerin for stepping in and seizing his opportunity.

Now it’s up to the Frenchman to show the same sort of patience and wait for his own chance to come along. With Arsenal competing in four competitions this season, they’ll definitely emerge, but if Debuchy wants to wrest the starting berth back from his team-mate, he’s going to have to up his levels.

Grzegorz Krychowiak Discusses Future

Sevilla’s star midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak has admitted he could have easily left Sevilla this summer had his manager Unai Emery done the same.

As reported by Jose Maria Lopez Guerra of AS, Arsenal were said to have a strong interest in the player. But as noted by the aforementioned piece, speaking with Polish newspaper Przeglad Sportowy, Krychowiak revealed he would have gone had his manager, who he praises effusively, decided not to extend his stay in Andalusia:

Unai's decision to stay was crucial for me. I wanted to form part of his project and only his, nobody else's. If he had left to go to another club it's probable I would have seriously considered doing the same. Emery is part of my success. He believes in me. We are twin souls, we are a perfect fit, our philosophies are very similar. I have only been at Sevilla for a year but I owe a lot to the manager.

The Polish international took La Liga by storm last season. Krychowiak was a rumbustious presence at the base of Sevilla’s midfield, getting about the pitch superbly, putting in tackles and spoiling opposition play. Looking at what is often a flimsy Arsenal midfield, he would have been a very savvy purchase for the Gunners.

Bleacher Report’s Andy Brassell ran the rule over what Krychowiak would have added to the core of this Arsenal team:

But the 25-year-old has decided to stay at Sevilla, and he’s a player whom Emery will continue to build his team around.

The Polish international is likely to be even more impressive during his second season in La Liga, and with the additions of players such as Steven N’Zonzi and Yevhen Konoplyanka, the Andalusians will be a team to keep an eye on domestically and in the Champions League.

If the former Reims man continues to perform to these impeccable standards, Arsenal should be interested.

A defensive midfielder of Krychowiak’s class has long been scarce at the Emirates Stadium, and should the same old issues emerge for the Gunners again this year, perhaps it’s a weakness Wenger will finally address next summer.