Arsene Wenger Must Roll the Dice and Hand Mathieu Debuchy an Arsenal Recall

Arsenal have now officially confirmed a lengthy contract extension for Hector Bellerin. The Spanish right-back has committed his future to the Gunners and appears set to be their first-choice right-back for years to come.

It’s fantastic long-term news for Arsenal and the security of the right-back position. However, Gunners manager Arsene Wenger must find a way to cope without Bellerin in the immediate future. The Spaniard is still sidelined with an ankle injury and is not expected to return for several weeks.

After the unconvincing performance of Carl Jenkinson at Old Trafford, Wenger will be considering his options—and that could mean a return to action for outcast Mathieu Debuchy.

Jenkinson made his first Premier League start for Arsenal in more than two years against Manchester United. The former Charlton Athletic defender had spent 18 months on loan with West Ham United before a serious knee injury saw him spend the second half of 2015/16 in a gruelling rehabilitation programme.

Arsenal fans are delighted to see Jenkinson back on the pitch—he’s a boyhood fan of the club, and every supporter loves seeing one of their own out on the field. However, anyone expecting Jenkinson to have returned to Arsenal a vastly improved player will have been left a little disappointed. 

Some nerves on his part would be understandable—the last time Jenkinson started for Arsenal at Old Trafford, he was sent off in a humiliating 8-2 defeat. However, Arsenal can ill-afford an anxious deputy at right-back. This is a stage of the season when every point is precious, and any mistake can prove hugely costly. 

There were no particularly glaring errors from Jenkinson, but he did not look comfortable against the pace and trickery of Anthony Martial. Jenkinson’s strengths, like Bellerin’s, are in attack. He is arguably the best crosser at the club, whipping in balls from the right with speed and accuracy.

However, his technical game is not at the level of the rest of the Arsenal squad, and he struggles to get involved in the Gunners’ intricate passing game. Furthermore, with Olivier Giroud now confined to the bench, there is less use for his crossing ability.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

It’s going backwards when he’s exposed. For a tall player, he is not good in the air, and his positional sense remains naive. Jenkinson’s club loyalties have bought him enormous goodwill from the Arsenal fans, but it’s difficult to envisage him ever having the requisite quality to be a first-team regular. When he steps in for Bellerin, the gap between the two players is painfully evident.

Wenger does have other options. Before the United game, he toyed with the possibility of deploying Gabriel Paulista at right-back but ultimately opted for a player with more experience in that position. Shkodran Mustafi has played at right-back at both club and international level, but having established a functional central-defensive partnership between the German and Laurent Koscielny, Wenger is loath to break that pairing up. He told ESPN:

"

Our central defence is working well. To upset one position to put a player in another position where you are not even sure that he will do well?

Let's first keep a strong position where we are, and see if we can find a player who can come in in another position. We do not want to destroy two positions.

"

In the EFL Cup, youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles has filled in at full-back, but he does not yet look ready for the intensity of Premier League competition. 

That brings us to Debuchy. The Frenchman was expected to be part of Arsenal’s squad for their EFL Cup ties with Nottingham Forest and Reading but has been out of contention for the entirety of 2016/17. 

Frankly, it appeared as if his Arsenal career was over—and that was no great surprise. Debuchy appeared to have burnt his bridges after a series of public complaints about a lack of playing time throughout the course of 2015/16. He pulled no punches, at one stage telling L’Equipe (h/t Sport Witness): “Whatever happens, I want to leave, even on loan. I can't stay at Arsenal.”

In the last January transfer window, he made a temporary move to Bordeaux in an attempt to resurrect his chances of making the France squad for EURO 2016. In the end, injury put paid to his hopes.

NICOLAS TUCAT/Getty Images

It has to be said that Debuchy has been incredibly unlucky. Signed by Wenger as a direct replacement for Bacary Sagna, two major injuries in his maiden season in north London handed Bellerin an unexpected opportunity in the first team. The Spaniard never looked back, and Debuchy quickly went from shiny new signing to substitute. 

The decline in his fortunes damaged his confidence. When Debuchy was called upon last season, he looked off the pace. In his early Arsenal performances, he had looked aggressive, athletic and defensively switched-on. For much of 2015/16, he looked half the player he had been at Lille and Newcastle.

However, Wenger will know that at his best, Debuchy remains a better footballer than Jenkinson. He might not be the player he was a few years ago, but he’s still only 31. If Wenger can get him motivated and fit, he may be the best option to fill the right-back berth until Bellerin can return.

Alex Pantling/Getty Images

It seems that after months in the cold, Wenger is readying Debuchy for action. Last week, he played for Arsenal’s under-23 side in a 2-0 victory over neighbours Tottenham. Not only did the Frenchman look defensively adept, but he also scored, crashing home a close-range volley in the 65th minute. 

Wenger may be getting Debuchy fit as back-up for Jenkinson in case Arsenal suffer another untimely injury. However, if the Frenchman can continue to impress in training and reserve games, the manager may consider handing him a recall to the first-team.

Debuchy may have caused a headache with his public dissatisfaction last term, but at this stage of the season, pragmatism must come before principle. Debuchy is the second-best right-back on Arsenal’s books, and it would be folly to discard him while he is still under contract.  

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout 2016/17. Follow him on Twitter here.