With confirmation that Carl Jenkinson is set for a move to Crystal Palace in the next couple of days, you’d think that keeping Mathieu Debuchy as back-up for Hector Bellerin would be something of a no-brainer, despite the French international’s public unease with his lack of playing time.

However, Arsene Wenger hasn’t ruled out the possibility of the 31 year making a move away in the January transfer window.

Even with Bellerin currently dealing with an ankle problem that will keep him out of tomorrow’s game with Swansea, the Arsenal manager wasn’t categorically minded to keep the £12m signing from Newcastle in the summer of 2014.

Asked if the departure of Jenkinson would mean Debuchy staying, Wenger paused before saying, “The door is not definitely closed, but it depends on the quality of the opportunities he will have.

Wenger cited Bellerin, and Gabriel’s ability to play there, as reasons for potentially letting him go, but if the Spaniard continues to struggle with his ankle problem, there won’t be any natural replacement in the squad.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles was pressed into action there against Preston, and it may be a case that Wenger sees him as a player who can do the job in the short-term if required.