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Mathieu Debuchy joins Arsenal: Arsene Wenger praises 'perfect' new signing after Frenchman joins Gunners to replace Bacary Sagna

Sagna left on a free transfer to join Manchester City this summer, with Wenger moving to sign his international colleague from Newcastle for £12m

Jim van Wijk
Friday 18 July 2014 08:16 BST
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Mathieu Debuchy has signed for Arsenal from Newcastle
Mathieu Debuchy has signed for Arsenal from Newcastle (Twitter/Arsenal FC)

Manager Arsene Wenger is confident new Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy will fit right into his team's counter-attacking style - with more additions expected before the start of the Barclays Premier League campaign.

The protracted transfer of the France international, understood to be worth around £12 million, was finally confirmed on Thursday evening when Newcastle were able to announce the signing of Holland defender Daryl Janmaat from Feyenoord.

Debuchy, 28, is seen as a Premier League-ready replacement for Bacary Sagna, who left to join Manchester City on a lucrative free transfer after helping Arsenal beat Hull in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

Arsenal have already brought in Chile forward Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona, and Wenger is now likely to turn his attentions to signing another defensive midfielder and a goalkeeper, with a deal for Colombia international David Ospina from Nice expected to be completed imminently.

Wenger is confident Debuchy can continue his progress with Arsenal, having been a consistent performer at Newcastle following a £5m move from Lille in January 2013, and will contest the right-back spot with England hopeful Carl Jenkinson.

"The obvious replacement for Sagna was Debuchy. He knows what to expect and that's of course a huge advantage," Wenger said on Arsenal Player.

"Debuchy is very good going forward, is very quick in transition.

"He is 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, so I believe he will be perfectly suited to our style in that aspect."

Debuchy is in no doubt he has joined a club very much on the up as Arsenal look to mount a long-overdue sustained assault on the Premier League title.

"I know that Arsenal can win titles every year. Winning the FA Cup last season was something magnificent, but I hope that it is just the beginning and that there will be more to come next season," said Debuchy, who was part of the France squad which reached the quarter-finals at the World Cup, where they were beaten by eventual champions Germany.

"There are some really great players in this team. We saw that last season and I think it will be even better this season.

"I hope there is more silverware to come in the next few years."

Arsenal unveil new signing Mathieu Debuchy (Getty Images)

German World Cup winner Sami Khedira has been a target, but reports in Spain suggest the midfielder will now look to sign a new deal at Real Madrid, with his agent maintaining there had been no fee agreed with Arsenal or Chelsea, who would be able to meet any inflated wage demands.

Borussia Dortmund's Lars Bender, who missed the World Cup through injury, is another player Wenger has long admired.

Egypt defender Ahmed Fathi is having a trial at Arsenal this week, while Atletico Madrid's 19-year-old right-back Javi Manquillo is another a potential new recruit.

Arsenal play their opening pre-season friendly at Boreham Wood on Saturday, where Wenger will select a mixed squad including those players not on international duty at the World Cup.

PA

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