It’s fair to say Mathieu Debuchy hasn’t had a fun time of it at Arsenal so far. Since moving from Newcastle just over a year ago the France international has banjaxed his ankle, dislocated his shoulder and fallen down the right-back pecking order.

It’s left the 30-year-old feeling a bit miffed. So much so that when Hector Bellerin was selected ahead of him for the Community Shield showdown with Chelsea he weighed up the possibility of a hasty Emirates exit.

Why is he so frustrated? It appears to stem from a fear of missing out on the upcoming European Championships in his homeland.

Speaking while on international duty with Les Bleus, Debuchy told press: “It’s difficult. Even though I didn’t play a lot last season, in my head I thought I’d return to the starting lineup after my recovery. But at the Community Shield against Chelsea, Wenger chose him, [Hector] 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 regain my place.

“He [Wenger] told me nothing was gained and that there’s a lot of games over the course of a season. He knows I’m worried though because there’s an important deadline at the end of the season.

“It’s a must to hold down a first team place. It’s clear. To be effective on the field you need game time. In the long-term, if this situation continues it could become tricky.”

No doubt Debuchy will have a part to play in this season; given his £10 million price-tag he’d be a very expensive player not to utilise at some point.

Given Hector’s inexperience there’s always a chance the Spaniard could encounter a second season dip…it really is up to the Frenchman to take his chance if he’s then thrown into the fray. When Mathieu did feature last term he looked a very solid option both on the right and as an auxiliary centre-back.