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The Forgotten Arsenal Man Mathieu Debuchy to Make First Arsenal Appearance in 11 Months against Red Star Belgrade

Right-back Mathieu Debuchy will make his first senior competitive Arsenal appearance in almost 11 months on Thursday night as the Gunners travel to Serbia for their latest Europa League Group H fixture against Red Star Belgrade. Debuchy has become something of a forgotten figure at the Emirates Stadium after returning from a loan stint at Bordeaux and playing just 16 minutes of Premier League football in 2016-17 before suffering a hamstring injury during the 3-1 win over Bournemouth.

The 32-year-old was widely expected to depart Arsenal during the summer transfer window. However, he eventually stayed in north London after a proposed return to France collapsed when OGC Nice, reportedly put off by his wage demands, opted to sign Christophe Jallet from Lyon.

Newly-promoted Brighton & Hove Albion also lodged an enquiry for Debuchy in the run-up to deadline day, with Arsene Wenger apparently willing to let his compatriot depart for nothing. Yet a move to the south coast never materialised.

Debuchy has not featured in a senior Arsenal matchday squad since being confined to the substitutes' bench for an FA Cup fifth-round win over non-league Sutton United in February. However, he has travelled to Belgrade and will start at a sold-out Rajko Mitic Stadium.

"Hopefully he gets through," Wenger told reporters at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday evening. "He will certainly start tomorrow."

Usual Europa League goalkeeper David Ospina did not make the trip to southeast Europe because of injury, according to the Evening Standard, meaning that first-choice custodian Petr Cech is set to retain his starting berth against Red Star. The likes of Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud should also come in as Arsenal continue to rotate their squad in Europe's secondary club competition and 18-year-old Josh Dasilva could make his senior debut.

Shkodran Mustafi has been ruled out for up to six weeks with a thigh strain suffered on international duty with Germany, while fellow defender Calum Chambers' return from a recurring hip problem will reportedly be postponed by a further fortnight.

Source - IBTimes
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