Gunners boss hails new signing.Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has heaped praise on new signing Mathieu Debuchy, who completed a move from Newcastle United on Thursday evening.
Speaking to the club’s official website, the Gunners boss explained that he feels Debuchy was the ideal replacement for the departing Bacary Sagna, who left the Emirates Stadium for a free transfer to Manchester City earlier this summer.
A number of other players had been linked with Arsenal following Sagna’s departure, including exciting Ivory Coast youngster Serge Aurier, who impressed at this summer’s World Cup, but Wenger admits he is glad to have brought in a player with Premier League experience, with the 28-year-old having spent a year and a half at St James’ Park.
“The obvious replacement for Sagna was Debuchy,” said the Frenchman. “He’s a guy who will bring something to the team with the departure of Sagna. We needed to sign somebody and I think Debuchy is the perfect signing.
“I think he’s very good going forward, he’s very quick in transition. He’s sharp in his marking, good with interceptions and quick to go from defence to attack. You feel he always has the desire to go forward. I believe he will be perfectly suited to our style in that aspect.”
There has also been some speculation over the future of youngster Carl Jenkinson following Debuchy’s arrival, but Wenger insists that he will still be in his plans next season as he wants to have at least two players competing in every position on the pitch.
“He will also be in competition with Jenkinson, who I expect to move forward as well,” he added. “There’s an interesting fight there.
“There is nobody today who can play 60 games at the top level – that’s why you always need two players. People always want for you to have two players in every position or sometimes three, and then they will ask you ‘who will play?’ You don’t know before the season starts but what is important is that you have good players to have a chance to compete at the top level.”
Debuchy is believed to have cost somewhere in the region of £10m, and is Arsenal’s second signing of the summer, following the arrival of Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona.
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