Whilst Arsene Wenger has a reputation for nurturing young players, he’s also known to offer short shrift to players who are entering the autumn of their career.
Arsene Wenger seems to believe that turning 30-years-old is the beginning of the end for professional footballers. That’s got to be why he’s so slow to offer his older players new contracts and why any new deals that are usually offered on a short-term basis.
Many professional footballers continue to perform at the top level until their mid-30s. Heck, take a look at Ryan Giggs who is still doing a good job at 40-years-old. It’s further evidence that class doesn’t just fade away over night.
Still, Wenger has every reason to be cautious. He’s built a system that’s based around quick movement, slick passing and plenty of forward momentum. Anybody who isn’t carrying their weight is going to hold this team back in a big way.
This brings me to Bacary Sagna, whose situation at Arsenal has become increasingly desperate. His contract with the Gunners will expire in the January, when he’ll be available as a free transfer for other clubs to sign.
Given that he’s been one of the best and most consistent right backs of the Premier League era, I can’t help but feel that this would be a major loss for the North London club.
Finding a full-back that’s equally adept at attacking as he is at defending is no easy task. Despite this Bacary Sagna has proven to be an accomplished all-rounder, who gallops up and down the flanks with real drive, throwing himself into challenges and whipping in crosses.
The Star claims that Arsenal have offered Sagna a new deal that would keep him at the club for another two years. This contract extension would keep him on his current pay package of £60k-a-week.
The situation is made even worse by The Star’s claim that Manchester City have entered the race for Sagna’s signature. Could the Frenchman be about to follow in the footsteps of his former Arsenal team mates and compatriots, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy?
Yes, he’s getting on in years, but it’d still be a big mistake to let him join a major rival. He’s got at least another two-or-three more good years left in him and letting him have these at the Etihad stadium could seriously hamper the Gunners chances of earning silverware over the coming years.
So if Arsene Wenger has to offer Sagna improved terms to keep him, then I hope he opts to loosen his purse strings for once.
What’s your take? Would losing Bacary Sagna be a big loss for Arsenal?
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we definitively need to keep sagne and also bring more defensive player
we need to keep him by all means