Mathieu Debuchy ready to return to Arsenal squad after three-month lay-off
By Arsenal correspondent Tony Hughes
is in line to return to the
squad for Saturday lunchtime's
showdown against
.
The France defender has been in full contact training this week and emerged from Friday's session ready to be involved in the pivotal clash against the Merseysiders.
Football Insider
sources have learned that Debuchy is regarded as more likely to make the matchday squad than fellow long-term absentees Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby. The quartet all made their comeback after lengthy lay-offs in a reserve-team friendly against Brentford on Tuesday, which Arsenal won 4-0. Speaking on Thursday, Arsene Wenger said: "They were all involved on Tuesday and it went well. They’ve no problem after that coming out of the game. They are back available in training, a bit short still of top competitive level certainly but that’s normal. They’ve been out for a long time but I was quite surprised by how fit they looked and the quality of their performance - it was good." Debuchy, who has been sidelined since January with a dislocated shoulder, has been training away from the main group for nearly a month but had been held back from contact work while his injury fully recovered. He is now ready to return and could be in the squad against Liverpool, which is a key match in the race for the four Champions League places. Arsenal, who are in third, are six points ahead of Brendan Rodgers' team going into Saturday's fixture at Emirates Stadium.