Bacary Sagna

Bacary Sagna - Classy Footballer

Arsenal's French defender Bacary Sagna has said that he is extremely delighted to have spent the best part of his career with Arsenal.

The 29-year-old has been rumoured to be on the verge of an exit from Arsenal in recent months after his comments about the transfer policy of the club. However, he has patched up things with the manager Arsene Wenger and is now it one of the best clubs in Europe. Even though Arsenal are yet to win a major trophy in the last seven years, Bacary Sagna is confident that things will certainly improve over the next few seasons.

He has said that he has always enjoyed playing for Arsenal and still continues to do so. He has learned to give 100% to the club every time he goes on the pitch. He also creates not club like a family and is extremely happy to be part of the training as well. Bacary Sagna has also admitted that he was extremely nervous in the first few matches of his Arsenal career, as it was his first steps into English football. Over the years, he has established itself as the first choice right back at the club.

"It has been magic. I’ve enjoyed a lot playing for Arsenal and I still love it. Every time I go to the pitch, I just give 100 per cent for the team. [The club] is like my family. My personal family is in France but I feel at home here, I feel happy to come training and I feel relaxed. There are not many big clubs where you feel that confident. I think I have progressed a lot - that was my target, to come to such a big club and improve," said the defender on the official website of the Arsenal.

The manager of Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, has expressed his unhappiness on Bacary Sagna’s comments about the transfer of Alex Song. A few days ago, Sagna had said that Wenger’s decision to sell Song was bizarre. Wenger looked pretty upset with Sagna’s comment.

On being asked whether he has talked to Sagna on this issue, Wenger said, “Yes, I have talked to Sagna. I think you are completely free to say whatever you think, but, you should back the decisions of the club for which you are playing. He is an experienced bloke and he has been with the club for quite a while now. Such type of statement is not expected from him.”

Sagna has been playing for Arsenal since the last 5 years. He had joined the club in July 2007. Arsenal had paid 9 million Euros for buying him from Auxerre. Sagna’s contract with Arsenal will expire at the end of the 2013-14 season.

Sagna had injured his leg towards the end of the last season and he hasn’t yet recovered from that injury. He is expected to make a comeback in the middle of October.
When asked about the extension of Sagna’s contract, Wenger said, “Bacary will probably be offered a new contract when he will come back in the squad. It will be up to him to decide whether he wants to continue playing for the club or not. His performance has been decent during his tenure at the club so far and we want him to sign a new contract. But, he will have to take the final call.”

When asked about the fitness of Jack Wilshere, Wenger said, “Jack has almost recovered from his injury and has started to train lightly. He will start attending full training sessions in a few days and hopefully, he will be back soon.”

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna could be back into the first-team action much earlier than expected after the defender has revealed that he expects to be fit for the start of the new season.

The 29-year-old French defender suffered a major injury for the second time last season. It was enough to keep him out of the Euro 2012, but this injury seems to have worked in favour of the defender after he has been able to recuperate sufficiently in time for the start of the new season. There were many times during last season when Arsenal clearly struggled without Bacary Sagna in the back.

The French defender is one of the main attacking threats of the team, while he is also equally adept at defending. In his absence, manager Arsene Wenger had to utilise his central defenders in order to replace him. Bacary Sagna suffered a major injury in the final match of the last season against Norwich city. This was his second major injury of the season after he had broken his leg earlier in the season while playing in the North London Derby against Tottenham. It was initially thought that he may not be back into the first-team until September, but Bacary Sagna has given the boost to manager Arsene Wenger by saying that he will be fit for the start of the new season.

The new season starts in a matter of weeks and Arsenal will be hoping that they conclude the pre-season in the best possible fashion. They played in the recent friendly match against Manchester City, which did not end well for the men from London. Arsenal lost in the match 2-0, although they were without a number of players like Lukas Podolski and Robin van Persie. Robin van Persie has been linked with a move to Manchester City.

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has said that the matches between England and France have always been like a derby due to the fierce nature of the matches.

England and France have been grouped in the same group for the Euro 2012. They are the favourites to qualify for the quarter finals of the competition ahead of both Sweden and Ukraine.

The opening group match will be against England and France. Both teams will be looking to get off to a good start, and it will lead to a very fierce encounter according to Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna.

The right back has been ruled out of the competition after suffering his second major injury of the season playing for Arsenal. In his place, French national team manager Laurent Blanc has used the Lille defender Debuchy, who has been impressive so far in the campaign for his club team.

The 29-year-old Bacary Sagna has said that he is extremely disappointed to miss out on the Euro 2012, but is determined to cheer France, who are looking for their repeat of their successful Euro campaign many seasons ago. France have already beaten Steven Gerrard's England in a recent friendly match, but Bacary Sagna reckons that it will be tough to separate them this time around.

"It is like a derby. Every time France play England it is massive. No one wants to lose. We beat them at Wembley, but this game will be totally different. They have changed manager as well, and have new players coming into the team so it will be very different. A successful tournament for France can only be winning it. You can only be successful by winning something. We want to go far and play good football as well," said Bacary Sagna ahead of the opening game for France at the Euro 2012.

Arsenal's French defender Bacary Sagna has said that he is extremely unhappy with the challenge made by Norwich City midfielder Bradley Johnson, which caused him to suffer a broken leg for the second time in the season. Crucially, this also means that he will now be taking no part in the Euro 2012, which will take place in Poland and Ukraine shortly.

Speaking after undergoing an operation, Bacary Sagna has said that Norwich City midfielder Bradley Johnson made the challenge on purpose and has made no apologies to him since then. Arsenal drew the match 3-3 after suffering a late goal to Norwich, which put a major doubt on their hopes of finishing in third position.

Bacary Sagna has said that Bradley Johnson made the tackle in such a way that he stepped on his feet so as to injure him. However, the French defender has said that he is extremely strong in character so that he will definitely return back strongly. Suffering a leg break is something that is not new to the Frenchman after he suffered the same earlier in the season while playing against Tottenham. Arsenal suffered a lot in his absence, while his return back to the team coincided with a good run of form for Arsene Wenger's men.

"I think he did it on purpose. He stepped on my leg. Play continues, I get back on my feet. And when I tried to control the ball, I felt a crack, just like the first time at Tottenham. He stepped right where the plate was. I think the plate pressured [the bone]. It's a neat break, just above the plate. It's football. It has happened to others before me. I came back once, I will come back a second time, even stronger," said Bacary Sagna.

Thomas Vermaelen is going to in the left back position for the match against Everton due to the injury to a number of key defender of, most importantly Bacary Sagna. The defender has been ruled out for a short while, which means that Thomas Vermaelen has to step up to the plate by playing in an unknown position.

The Belgian international has not played in this position for Arsenal at all, which means that Everton are likely to target this area for their attacking intent. Arsenal's Brazilian full-back Andre Santos is also unavailable after injuring himself in the midweek Champions League match against Olympiacos.

Despite progressing through to the last 16 of the Champions League as group winners, Arsene Wenger decided to use the Brazilian full-back for the match, in which Arsenal lost 3-1. More than the defeat, Wenger will be extremely worried about the injury to Andre Santos. The injury also now means that they will have to play Thomas Vermaelen at left back for the match against Everton, which also marks the 125th anniversary celebrations at the Emirates Stadium. A number of key personnel from past are likely to be present at this occasion. The former Arsenal players like Thierry Henry will be present during the occasion.

Other areas of the pitch, though, does not seem to be troubling Arsene Wenger after he will be naming an unchanged side that will feature the likes of Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Gervinho up front. It is also going to be extremely similar in the midfield as well, where the arrival of Mikel Arteta has added a real presence to the Arsenal team. Mikel Arteta, Alex Song, and Aaron Ramsey will be part of the midfield that will be hoping to win against Everton.