Mathieu Debuchy injury: Arsenal right-back ruled out for three months after having surgery on dislocated shoulder
Debuchy was pushed to the floor by Marko Arnautovic during the Gunners' 3-0 won over Stoke last weekend
Matheu Debuchy has joined Mikel Arteta in being ruled out for three months after Arsene Wenger confirmed he has undergone surgery on the dislocated shoulder he suffered during Arsenal's 3-0 win over Stoke last weekend.
Debuchy was carried off on a stretcher shortly after Laurent Koscielny’s opening goal following a clash with Stoke’s Marko Arnautovic. With the ball going out of play, Arnautovic shoved the Frenchman in the back, sending him crashing to the floor and into the advertising hoarding surrounding the Emirates Stadium pitch.
Speaking to www.arsenal.com, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: “Mathieu had a surgery on his right shoulder following the injury on Sunday. It's very unfortunate for Mathieu, it's unbelievable because he's had two surgeries in the same season.
Arsenal's injury list
Show all 6“He just came back, he played seven games and he's out again. I count three months out for Mathieu because contact will be a problem for the shoulder.”
Debuchy missed three months of the season before Christmas after suffering an ankle injury shortly after completing his £12m summer transfer from Newcastle, and his absence has left the Gunners desperately short at the back – not to mention forcing Calum Chambers into playing nearly every match due to his versatility and Arsenal’s lack of depth at the back.
The news comes as a second blow to Arsenal fans, who learnt today that captain Mikel Arteta will also miss a further three months after having surgery on an inflamed ankle. Arteta has not played since the 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last November, and with his contract up for renewal at the end of the season, he may well have played his final game for the north London club.
There was a positive update on left-back Kieran Gibbs who will train tomorrow, and Wenger is hopeful that he can be included in the squad for Sunday’s crucial Premier League trip to Manchester City, although the 65-year-old Frenchman confirmed that the game has come too soon for Danny Welbeck to return from a thigh injury.
“Kieran Gibbs will be training again with the squad on Friday and we will see how he goes from there. His news is positive,” said Wenger.
“Danny Welbeck is not ready yet, he is still feeling some pain, so we will have to be patient.”
Debuchy's absence sees him become one of seven players currently injured among the Arsenal squad in a season that has been blighted by injury. Influential midfielder Jack Wilshere is not due to return from his own ankle injury until the end of February, while Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Özil have only just returned from separate injuries.
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