One of five major exits at Arsenal in January alongside Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sanchez, Francis Coquelin and Theo Walcott, Mathieu Debuchy has hit the ground running at Saint-Etienne.
Seeing his contract amiably terminated by the Gunners to allow him to choose his next club, the veteran defender decided to head back to France, hoping to impress Didier Deschamps enough to get a spot in the France manager’s squad for the World Cup come the summer.
Leaving the Emirates was a necessity for the 32-year-old, and he was ready to do so both physically and mentally, as he explained to Onzeo in France, relayed by Foot-Sur7.
He said: “I knew that I probably would have to change clubs really quickly, so I prepared myself physically with that in mind. I wanted to be ready for my new club. I didn’t have a choice.”
Yet to miss a minute of football for Saint-Etienne, Debuchy has also scored two goals in four games, including a last minute equaliser in the derby against Lyon at the weekend.
Considering the lack of depth at the position in the France national team, if he continues the way he has, and plays injury free for the rest of the season, Deschamps might not have a choice but to pick the former Arsenal defender come his squad announcement.
