Mathieu Debuchy has been offered a three-year deal by Saint-Etienne but wants to take some time to think about his decision before giving them an answer.

Debuchy left Arsenal in January and was handed a six-month deal with Saint-Etienne. He went on to make 15 appearances in the second half of the season, finding the net an impressive four times.

After struggling with injuries and form at Arsenal, the Frenchman has excelled since his return to France and even got himself onto the World Cup standby list.

Now 32, he would seem foolish to turn down a three-year deal, however L’Equipe report that he wants some time to mull it over and will give his answer ‘within the next week’.

Debuchy signed for Arsenal from Newcastle in 2014 for a fee of £13.5m. An exciting signing, the Frenchman suffered a dislocated shoulder just months after arriving at the club when Marko Arnautovic, then of Stoke, pushed him into the advertising hoardings.

This injury lay-off allowed Hector Bellerin to steal in and claim the right-back role. Debuchy admitted he expected to be automatically handed his starting spot when he returned to fitness. He complained frequently about that not happening.

A further four injuries meant he was never really able to challenge Bellerin for that spot and his frustration grew until the whole saga finally came to an end in the last transfer window.