Why Mathieu Debuchy Is the Arsenal Man with Most at Stake After Internationals

When Arsenal return from the international break, Mathieu Debuchy will most likely be forced to return to the substitutes' bench. He’ll then face a period of six weeks or so which could decide his future at the club.

The 30-year-old has done little to disguise his discontent about losing his regular first-team place to Hector Bellerin. The Frenchman was initially recruited in the summer of 2014 as a direct replacement for Bacary Sagna. Initially, it appeared an astute acquisition—Debuchy’s experience and resilience meant he slotted seamlessly into the Arsenal back four.

However, two major injuries destroyed his 2014/15 campaign. In his absence, Bellerin, 20, emerged from the club’s academy to become one of the most exciting young full-backs in Europe.

The writing was on the wall for Debuchy back in May. Although he had returned to full training, Arsene Wenger chose to stick with the younger Bellerin for the FA Cup final against Aston Villa. That was a show of faith in the Spaniard that showed he had usurped the former Newcastle man as Wenger’s preferred right-back.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

That situation has extended into this season, with the Frenchman forced to bide his time on the bench. In the last couple of games, Debuchy was granted a brief reprieve by an injury to Bellerin.

This was an opportunity for Debuchy to state his credentials and reassert his seniority over Bellerin. However, he looks some way away from the player who impressed on first arrival at the Emirates Stadium.

It’s unlikely that Debuchy’s football abilities have disintegrated in the space of a few months. Instead, it’s more probable that he is suffering from a lack of rhythm having missed so much football.

Defenders tend to be at their best when they are a regular part of a cohesive back four, hence the reason they’re rotated less frequently than attacking players. Being parachuted in for a couple of cameos is far from ideal.

The reality is that Debuchy is unlikely to get the run of games he needs to rediscover his best form. Bellerin is expected to be back in the squad after the international break, and after Debuchy’s unconvincing audition, he is all but certain to reclaim his starting spot.

Darko Bandic/Associated Press

The Frenchman’s discontent is clear, and it seems his patience is now running thin. “I am dealing with it,” Debuchy told Canal+ (h/t the Telegraph). “I am trying to stay strong. We are going to remain concentrated until December, after that I will see.”

It’s clear that Debuchy intends to reassess at Christmas. There’s no coincidence about that timing.

When the transfer window reopens in January, he will be forced to make a decision about whether or not to push for a move away from the club. He will be influenced by the forthcoming Euro 2016 Championships. His lack of football with Arsenal has lost him his place in the international set-up. With the tournament being help in his native France, he’ll be desperate to reclaim his spot with the national team.

Wenger would be loath to let him go, but he doesn’t tend to keep unhappy players on the books if he can find a suitable solution. In the next couple of months, Debuchy’s situation could become critical.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.