Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy has had a stadium named after him in the outskirts of Lille, reports the London Evening Standard.

The 30-year-old, who has made just 12 Premier League starts for the Gunners since his move from Newcastle in the summer of 2014, was in the French town of Wattignies to mark the re-opening of the newly-named Stade Mathieu Debuchy following renovation work.

The ground is just over six miles from the home of Lille, where Debuchy played for 10 years, winning Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France title.

Debuchy was joined by his parents, wife and four children at the ground, which now boasts new changing rooms and a state of the art artificial playing field.

"It makes the heart glad to come here," he said.