Arsenal lose Debuchy for group stage
Monday, September 22, 2014
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Arsenal FC defender Mathieu Debuchy will miss the whole UEFA Champions League group stage following an ankle operation that will rule him out for three months.
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Arsenal FC right-back Mathieu Debuchy has been ruled out of the rest of the UEFA Champions League group stage following an ankle operation.
The 29-year-old French international injured his left ankle in the 2-2 home draw against Manchester City FC on 13 September and an assessment on Friday confirmed the need for immediate surgery. Manager Arsène Wenger told the club's website: "He has had surgery and will be out for three months.
"It all went well, but it can be a week or two earlier or a week or two later, but it will be around three months. It is a blow of course; how big it will be we will only know afterwards because it will be down to how well we replace him. We bought [Calum] Chambers for that."
A summer signing from Newcastle United FC, Debuchy was already suspended for Arsenal's opening Group D loss at Borussia Dortmund last Tuesday. The Gunners are at home to Galatasaray AŞ on Wednesday 1 October.
