New face: Debuchy (right) takes on Radamel Falcao (Picture: AP Photo)

When Arsenal realised that they would lose Bacary Sagna on a Bosman free transfer this summer they wasted no time in recruiting an international full-back with Premier League experience to replace him.

Despite his unsettling similarity to David Bentley in the looks department, Mathieu Debuchy has shown already that he fits right in at Arsenal and has impressed fans during pre-season and the Community Shield.

Speaking to the press the Frenchman revealed why he chose to join Arsenal and why the club is perfect for him.

He said: ‘It was the right time for me to make this big step forward and this big move.




‘When my agents told me Arsenal were interested, I said yes straight away. There was no question, no debate, no doubt, nothing.

‘You don’t turn down a club like Arsenal. A lot of players would like to be in my shoes right now.

‘This is another dimension. If you compare the training grounds for example, nothing at Lille or Newcastle can match the Arsenal one. It is another world.

‘Everything here is made to optimise your preparation and you as a player. So you can be in the best condition to play and win football games.

‘This was the perfect move for me to continue to improve and to win trophies too.’

Picked in the French side ahead of Sagna, Debuchy’s arrival has eased what could have been a tricky time for the club. Sagna was well established and loved by the fans and his loss could have been a significant one. But, utilising their new-found financial freedom, Arsenal landed one of the top defenders in the country.

With Calum Chambers also added to the squad, a player who is already showing that he is not one of the future but rather a player who can contribute to the squad in the season ahead, Arsenal are perhaps stronger in the right-back position than they were last year.

And, not only is Debuchy a quality player, he is one who is clearly delighted to be playing for Arsenal, something Sagna no longer felt. As fans we not only want to know that we have great players, we also want to be sure that they want to play for our club.

In Debuchy there can be no doubts.

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