For three-four seasons now, Bacary Sagna has been one of the Premier League’s most consistent right-backs. Yes, it’s not a particularly glamorous position, but it’s one that the Bac seems to have mastered and excelled in. He’s a genuine talent and if he’s approaching the end of his Arsenal career, I’ll be sorry to see him go.
The truth is, Bacary Sagna has had his career hit by injuries and this finally seems to be catching up with him. He’s a true athlete, but suffering two broken legs in a single season can really knock the stuffing out of you. This, coupled with his knee complaints seem to have resulted in Sagna playing ‘with the handbrake on’ to borrow one of Arsene Wenger’s phrases.
This, in combination, with his contract situation, has thrown his Arsenal future into doubt. According to the Daily Mail, Sagna and Arsenal are locked in contract negotiations, with the French full-back refusing to sign a 12-month extension that will keep him at the Emirates until 2015.
The trouble, it seems, is that Sagna won’t get a pay-rise out of the deal. He’ll remain on his current £60k-a-week salary. It’s claimed that the defender feels ‘disrespected’ and that these terms aren’t fair pay for what he offers the club and the loyalty he has shown over the years.
Now I have to say I feel for Sagna a bit here. The Frenchman is a player who was worth more than £60k-a-week a season or so ago. Now, I’m not so sure he’s up to snuff.
The Mail also claim that Arsene Wenger has already begun the process of replacing Sagna and is drawing up a ‘dossier’ (oo-er) of potential targets.
Suffice to say, things are really coming to a head. It strikes me that Arsenal are the party who is in charge here. Sagna will be 30-years-old this Valentines day and I will begin to slow down over the coming seasons. As a full-back he’s not as attractive to prospective clubs as he would have been a season or two ago.
I’m sure big clubs will be interested, but will they make a move if they know he’s after big wages? I’m not so sure.
If the Bac doesn’t sign a new deal, Arsenal have the funds to go out and by somebody just as talented. Who’ll they’ll bring in is anybodies guess, but there are plenty of candidates out there.
I’ll be sad to see him go, but if he does, Arsenal will be ready.
What’s your take? Is it time for Bacary Sagna to move on?
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Bac doesn’t have to go. As he showed yesterday vs Sunderland, he has a future as a centre back. About time we had another testimonial at this club.
Sagna been by far one of the most consistent RB in the country. We need to keep him and show him some loyalty
I totally agree we always talk about players owing loyalty to our
Club but surely this works both ways sign him up give the bac a
Pay rise
for so many seasons we complained about losing our best players calling them traitors..im very disappointed that one of our most loyal players is being treated this way!is this the message we want to send to the players that when they get to 28/29 they have to leave us in search of one last&better contract??
Nobody offers 30 yr olds more th a one year extension hese days and it has been Arsenal policy for years. Also the FFP climate will gradually erode the players’ negotiating position.
like goonereris said, move him from rb to cb, he may be losing his pace but his defensive abilities are still there, buy a new rb in the summer instead of a cb and our defense is complete, then get a back up keeper, szcesney proved hes too good to be on the bench, a dm and a striker
yes sagna has did it his always a hero in arsenal but den ur tradition we alwys has a gifted right side defence, but den his memory wil neva been vanished in Emirate “Gunners all d way”.
Speek english
The guy deserves package increament!
I like Sagna, he’s an honest pro and a bloody talented rb. He’s been great for us ever since arriving from Auxere.
For 3 years he was the best rb in the league. This season though has seen him being caught with space behind + 1 untimely slip.
I think his career could be prolonged in Italy. Any of Juve, Milan, Inter could improve by signing him, and the pace of the leagues could suit him.
Wenger better get it right.Since 2005,the gunners have gone downhill and allowed red faced to dominate.2002to 2006,was the period when the gunners and Chelsea dominate the epl.
Since 2007 the red faced has gone on to win the epl 4 times. Selling RVP was afrom the business pt of view,money in the bank. It has helped the rfc to be stronger and weaken Arsenal.
Wenger better know there is more margin for error if he wants the gunners to be competitive. If not the gunners shd get someone palying a different style to fight for the major trophies.sy
Some people really make me wonder! Wamba, u honestly think Sagna’s career shld continue elsewhere…Italy blaa blaa blaa! Wenger and his supporters are not serious. Chelsea, with its over 30s (Drogba, Lampard, Anelka etc), ManU with its over 30s (Scoles, Giggs etc), over 2seasons ago and counting 6 games we played with them (each), how many games did we win? Probably 2 wins against each! Rest of those games those over 30yr olds were whipping our asses. And here we are talking about Sagna being 30. With such mentality, we can’t win any trophies…and it seems we can’t learn from Wenger’s previous mistakes of getting rid of the most experienced players! Barcelona had Carlos Puyol in its lineup whn they knocked us out of the CL! So if Wenger gets rid of Sagna, then its rebuilding tym again!!! Whn will we ever have a stable squad? Come on AW give Sagna £75 000/week 2yrs and he will stay and stabilize our defence! How many tyms have Koscielny/Vermealen/Mert slipped or scored own goals this and last season? Let’s stop this nonsense!!!!!!!!
I so agree with you! Not only do we lose a great deal of experience, next to the big impact players like Theo, players like Sagna are the ones who the team turn to in difficult times. Loyalty and greed is often confused with each others in transfers but with Sagna I think we actually got someone who’s proud representing the Club. He’s a total keeper!