You have had your faithful friend for a long time. It has never let you down and chased balls and wagged it’s tail every time the opportunity arose but now things are not so rosy. Your beloved pet is showing his age and you have to make a difficult decision …. is it time to “let go”?
Bacary Sagna has had a brilliant career at Arsenal; he has twice been in the PFA Team of the Season, he has played over 200 games for Arsenal and over 30 times for France. This despite losing almost two seasons playing time with injury. He has been the first choice RB ever since he arrived for €9m from Auxerre in 2007.
But, this season he has shown weaknesses which point to a waning of his powers, add in to this the emergence of Jenkinson and one can easily question whether Bacary should be first choice – perhaps even sold.
I have to admit to having “man-love” for the beaded Frenchman, I think he is a top bloke. Determined, enthusiastic, energetic, handsome, versatile and with a good eye for a lady (see below) – I could go on. However, this affection does not preclude my belief that his time is coming to an end.
Mr Wenger has consistently chosen Sagna over Jenkinson despite the need for the Corporal to get more pitch time. I happen to believe that Arsene Knows Best (or at least more than I ever will), so why is BS first choice? Jenks is a better crosser, faster, younger and definitely our future RB. Could it be that Mr Wenger has man-love for Bacary as well?
Sagna cost us 2 points at home to Surrey United. A poor pass followed by a rush of blood to the head allowed some bloke to score a penalty. Is this evidence of BS’s failings? Not in my opinion – any player can make a mistake and Bacary makes less than most. No, my concern is that his best game by far this season was at CB against Sunderland in a MoM performance. This shows me that he is more comfortable playing in a position where pace and non-stop movement is not so important.
The fact he played so well at CB indicates that BS could be a very good squad member, he has played LB and CB over the seasons and coped admirably, but would we be better off sticking to players who specialise in their relative positions and buying a new back-up RB? Or would it be too much of a risk to rely on Jenkinson as our first choice without BS as back-up?
My Favourite Bacary Moment
There are rumours in the press about Arsenal looking at the Dortmund’s Piszczek to replace our “hunk”. Should we buy another right back and say a fond farewell to a fine player? What do you think?
Big Raddy
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
Morning all, I don’t know who wrote the post today but Mr X, whoever you are, thanks for it and my answer would be what you are hinting at – retain him as a squad player, a RB/CB back up.
Too early to ditch him IMHO and rely on Jenks as first choice.
In other news Wenger’s presser reveals Gibbo and Flappy are back in the squad for tomorrow so we only have one player injured in the whole squad, and no prizes for guessing who that is.
Interesting to see if they both return to the starting XI or not, a tough decision on both of therm. Glad I don’t have to decide.
I think give Bacary a 2 year deal – he can challenge Jenks for right back and be a no.4 CB. On recent evidence it would be difficult to see a CB ousting Per or Koz and TV5 is a class player who could back up on the left or even as a DM
Definitely NOT !! BC, as you stated, was voted best RB in the PL TWICE, since when he has broken his leg TWICE, and , as with all players, it has taken a while to regain his level of performance – ask Jack Wilshere !! .
He will only be fully recovered after the next pre season, as will JW, and Arsenal cannot afford to lose that kind of quality. Jenkinson is a very good stand in, but his time will have to wait.
Chary. One of mine.
Steve. I think TV will leave in summer. He is too good not to play every week
Thanks Raddy
Keep keep keep
Bac and Jenks are the perfect combo of teacher and pupil.
Also, replace him with what? Someone presumably younger but better than Jenks. Non.
Ah right, Big and Dandy, the edit hadn’t shown up with your name on the post when I commented.
TV is another dilemma as in what to do with him.
Is his loss of form temporary or signs of a permanent regression ?
Would he be happy being a squad player or maybe made into a DM ?
As I said before I’m glad I don’t have to sort out problems like this.
Nice Post, Randy, 🙂
If the PSG summer move had not allegedly broken down, Sagna would have already taken any decision out of Wenger’s (or the fans’ hands) and moved on to pastures new.
Irrespective of what happens this summer, he will have too much pride to simply stick around and be a ‘jack of all trades’ prepared to be on standby at RB or CB.
His injuries have not helped, but like the hypothetical dog in your Post, time and tide does not wait for anyone, we all age, and Sagna is no exception.
The symbolic bell rings for everyone eventually, signalling it is time to move on, and it has started tinkling for Sagna.
In any event, there is nothing wrong with him getting one last big pay day somewhere else, like PSG, and he should go with our thanks.
RA
If he’s no longer clear 1st choice for us, I doubt he would be for a “better” club
Flog Verm and Bac would get plenty of games
Doesn’t really work that way, Micky, shirker. 🙂
Every club that buys someone does so because they think he is better than the player they already have, regardless of what his previous club thinks of him.
It’s all a matter of subjective assessment.
I am, on the contrary, not swayed by the idea of Sagna staying on to ‘teach’ Cpl Jenks.
The pupil will never get a game, if the teacher is supposedly better than him, and if he has anything about him he will leave to go somewhere he would get game time. I would.
You have to ROLF at stoopid ManUre fans – being asked who their best all time Ferguson XI is and they put van Judas in it – the cutch dunt was only there for 1 season with ole red nose.
Typical glory hunting plastics.
I bloody hate them, their club and everything about them…in case anyone hadn’t noticed.
Sorry, Micky, I missed your final thought, that if we sold TV Bac would get plenty of games.
No one has convinced me, either, that playing a slight 10 stone, 5′ 10″ player at CB, with limited experience, against 13 stone, 6′ 4″ CFs, or in Crouch’s case a 6′ 7″ CF, on a regular basis makes any sense.
Just an opinion.
Said enough — ta ra. 🙂
I think the question here for the club is to decide whether this season represents signs of Sagna on the decline, or is a blip in an otherwise extremely consistent career, possibly caused by an injury that with some proper rest and pre season training, he can come back from.
Personally, I’d keep him. I think he’s been good for a few seasons, and I don’t think his injuries will stop him from recovering his form. If for some reason he doesn’t do great, Jenkinson can be an able deputy, and we also have Bellerin in the reserves, and well as Yennaris and Coquelin who can play there. There’s plenty of young talent waiting to burst through, but only Sagna with experience.
That doesn’t mean that Sagna himself will want to stay. How long a contract does he want (I would give him a 2 year extension if that’s what it took), and at what wages? Maybe he’d like to go somewhere. Also, Wenger can sometimes surprise. Sagna himself was bought when there seemed to be no need for a RB. Eboue was being considered as a potentially brilliant attacking RB at that point. So maybe he has someone better lined up.
I’m with RA on playing Sagna as a centre back. He played well against Sunderland, but I’m not sure he can do it consistently, nor that it’s fair to ask that of him. He is an emergency option in that position though, and maybe that counts for something.
So Wenger has explained why Poldi gets subbed off so often, it’s a combination of german players suffering physically when they come to England as there have no winter break here (as in the Bundesliga) and that the flanks are a very demanding position to play in and as well when we are leading in games it is a defensive strategy to consolidate leads.
No mention of carrying an injury.
Quite like this Fergies all-time XI: “Tiabi, Donaghy, Prunier, Berg, Albiston, Milne, Beardsmore, Kleberson, Djemba x2, Obertan, Forlan.”
🙂
I’ve heard that on top of everything else Sgna’s contract negotiations are distracting him. I’ll always love him. My favourite moment is when he was comforting Eduardo very soon after his brother had died. I think he is probably a very nice person.
Just got my tickets for the Japan games 🙂 How exciting
GM. Lucky so & so.
I agree that BS is too slight to be a CB – just like Mascherano 🙂
Chary. That is what happens when you give Ipads to Junior schools
Great post Raddy, I agree with those who say keep him for at least a couple of years. On this seasons evidence he is a better CB than TV. Can TV come back from such a poor season and being dropped even though captain – I doubt it. If his poor form could be attributed to injury then fair enough, but it is just poor form and what we need more than anything is consistency (consistently good that is 😕 )
I hope Sagna would be happy with playing rotationally with Jenks in the same way Gibbs and Nacho have shared the role. If BS has to play at CB on occasion then that is great because he has shown real quality in that position.
Lol, big Daddy, I assumed it was a dipper taking the mickey out of purple conks less than stellar purchases.
Djemba Djemba: so shite they named him twice.
Bellerin is very good but probably a bit young.
Afternoon all.
I’m afraid I may go against popular opinion and say MrConsistent isn’t consistently good enough. And probably hasn’t been for as long as he has been with us.
He is not the greatest defender (for the team, one on ones he is good) and his crossing has never really been great. He did have an amazing energy level and speed which enabled him to get away with deficiencies in other areas of his game.
And to top it all he remains one of the last two survivors of the failed generation along with TV. We need fresh impetus and mindset, keeping Bacary prolongs the memories of failure in the team.
That’s pretty dooming from me I realise, and maybe my opinion has been coloured by the most recent seasons, but I can’t remember ever really contributing enough to put him ahead of Lauren and Dixon or even close to either. In fact Eboue could have a bigger impact on a game than Bacary, although that wasn’t always for the best.
Now if he starts tomorrow he will still get my full support from the back of Clock End Upper….see you all in the Tavern 😀
Why didn’t I think of this all time Fergie XI ? “Webb; Elleray, Rennie, Winter, Wiley; Dowd, Foy, Poll, Marriner; Gallagher, Durkin.”
See you tomorrow GiE, I’m clock end lower.
It was a bloody nightmare getting tickets andi didn’t really want to spend £50 on what I think are the worst seats in the house, but the prospect of only having gone to two games all season was troubling and with August an eternity away I had to make the game.
Thankfully a flurry of last minute tickets came on Exchange this morning.
By the way am very impressed by the clubs new scheme to allow ST holders to pass on tickets to fellow members (silver and red) is a very good development, at least we no longer have to worry about getting someone’s card, and back to them after the game etc.
I was in clock end upper for the Reading game GiE – not the best view but I wasn’t all the way at the back, more like half way back.
Much prefer lower tier – better for getting pics for my match report, plus you can barrack the oppo players when they take corners :).
I was in clock end upper for the Newcastle game last year. I had some trouble getting into the stadium because the card wouldn’t work. Newcastle scored the first goal, and Arsenal scored just as I entered the stadium. And then it took till stoppage time for us to score the winner. My experience was spoiled by two young fellows who seemed drunk. They were obviously enthusiastic but would shout and cheer out of sync with everyone, leading to everyone around them becoming quiet.
The rest of the times, I’ve sat in North Bank lower. 3rd row, near the corner flag, for the Blackburn game. How wonderful to see the players from that close. Was also somewhere in the 6th or 8th row for the AC Milan game. Wonderful experience. I wish I could be a regular. I think I’d be in the North Bank lower if I had the choice.
Oh, I did sit in North Bank upper..way way back.. for the NLD last season. That was quite an experience too, but nothing to do with the seating.
What’s this about Fabregas to Manchester United? Surely that can’t happen, can it?
Perhaps he wants to re-unite with Van judas, Shard, nothing would surprise me with today’s football mercenaries nowadays but then what would would be the pull of playing for Moyes, of all people ? And he is someone who Cesc has previous with:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1352706/Arsenals-Cesc-Fabregas-blasted-Evertons-David-Moyes-tunnel-rant.html
I can understand why MU would want Fab. Hope he stays in Spain.
Starting to worry about tomorrow night – must be due to thinking about the pre-match.
Excellent post, I was convinced until the end that the author was Rocky although I am sure you will understand that that is meant as a compliment.
There are a couple of extremely important points here:
Let’s be clear, Bacary is a very good defender, not just one on ones but better than 95% of all the right backs in the EPL. And I only put the percentage that low because, off the top of my head, I cannot think who else I would prefer.
Bacary is a substantially better defender than Jenkinson. There are so many who sing the praises of Jenkinson and how much he adds to the attack, well using this argument to make a choice:
We should have stuck with Santos over Monreal.
Lastly, and this is the one that annoys me the most:
Sagna’s head has been turned
Nonsense, the man might want to secure a big final contract else where but the only way he is going to do that is to play as well as he possible can and that is exactly what he is doing, so all those who come out in the close season and try and tell us that his heart wasn’t in his job — you are wrong.
Bacary Sagna is one of the most commited Arsenal players at the club and a fine right back.
LB. Fine praise indeed – especially about a post which I spent very little time on.
I do think Jenkinson has the makings of a good defensive RB, and perhaps his season on the bench is because Steve Bould is working with him on this area.
My expectation is that it will be Bacary who decides his future. AW will struggle to find a better player to assist in the development of The Corporal and will surely want to keep a proper-Arsenal man.
Sagna is quality. He’s had a poor season after injury and his contract is in limbo. It may be the club, it may be him. Hard to say. But he looks like a man who is “distracted” for whatever reason. He is exactly the type of player we need to keep, solid, experienced and with leadership qualities. But if we don’t offer him a new contract, he’ll go – probably to one of our rivals. He doesn’t strike me as a mercenary, so if it’s Wenger deciding he doesn’t want him any more, it’s very worrying to me.
Mike
What is your definition of a “mercenary”?
Raddy,
Sagna has been a high quality player for us, but has suffered from a few unfortunate blips that have cost us both goals against and the loss of points, Man U being his latest episode.
He has a great attacking sense and invariably finds himself with both the time and space to make crosses – but the calibre of his crosses (too) often leaves a lot to be desired.
Many of our goals against have come from isolated breakaways when he was still trying to get back from his attacking foray’s. How many times have we been stunned by teams breaking away to score on their one and only shot on goal, it really beggars belief.
I don’t mean to imply that he is solely responsible for the lack of concentration, causing these types of goals – but he is not innocent either.
Now the surprise – but for the two reasons I have highlighted I feel that he has been a classy/great defender and would like to see him stay around and share the right back position with Jenkinson until Carl is ready to become our first choice.
Gn5,
I agree with all you wrote. Sagna’s crossing drives me nuts. How many times does he get into a good position and then hits the first man? It is such a basic skill for an over-lapping FB yet one in which Sagna hasn’t improved since his arrival
Good Post BR
I agree with your 3.58.
Bac has been a very reliable defender but has always been a bit wanting when it comes to the attacking part of the game.
The ideal full back would be an amazing defender who can also deliver top quality in the attacking half. In practice, of course, very few players have done both (Ashley Cole springs to mind).
I feel that Jenks has started maturing into a very capable defender and is also a natural crosser.
I would be happy for Bac to stay on for a couple of years as Jenks matures further, but I really can’t see him being with us next year.
About sagna`s crossing. It is annoying but I seem to remember thinking a couple of years ago that it was Something he`d improved on. No one at our club seems to cross very well. Perhaps poldi and jenks. It`s a bit of a chicken and egg thing. Do we not cross well because we don`t really flood the box, or do we not flood the box because we don`t cross well? I,m not sure but I think sagna can cross the ball. I`ve seen him do it well before. Maybe he just needs to know there will be a dependable target in there and work on the partnership. In any case his primary job is to Defend and he does that well.
Shard
I would estimate that about one in five of Bac’s crosses goes into the danger area. Not good enough really.
We have a buy back clause on Fab. I think Wenger would have him back. I don’t really care
Falcao to Monaco? Here’s how it might happen.
Does anyone think Third Party Ownership impinges on the fairness of the sport, and perhaps explains why some ‘investors’ buy clubs? I do.
Rocky,
I agree with you, but as I said, I’ve seen him cross well before (as in more consistently than he’s doing now) and I don’t think our problem in crossing is limited to him. Very few of our players seem to cross well, and this might be a systemic, or a training issue.
Will I be watching tomorrow night……? No!
Just cant take the stress!
Listened to Chelski vs Spurts and got angry
Listened to Stoke vs Spurts and nearly had a heart attack.
I just cant take the suspense.
So I WILL go to my cricket net practice from 8 till 10 and get the result afterwards.
I think that a few more starts for Jenkinson would have been nice. He didnt hurt us much when he had to play alot of matches early in the season, in fact, he could add a bit more in speed and crossing. And some rest for Bacary couldnt have been a bad thing.
goonerjake,
I quite understand your feelings! 🙂
Much the same for me and most people, I suspect, but I could not stand the suspense of not knowing!!
Thanks ra,
I think I have problems though, while listening to the second half of the stoke spurs match I was driving home from an appointment, it is normally a ten minute blast down the A1, however I diverted through the country roads taking turn after turn, switching the radio off every time spurts had a free kick or corner and switching it back on a minute later…. it took me half an hour to get home… when I did went straight inside to listen to the rest of the game … at which point the radio was off then on then most deffinetely off when spurs got their second.. from their I could only bear the vidiprinter on the bbc website… hoping for a goal from stoke….. after which I just stayed in and stuck on one dvd after another and avoided all chance of seeing all football for the rest of the day.
I need help!
Nice post Raddy and one to split opinions. I am siding with keeping him but to phase Jenkinson in more. Jenkinson is still some way from being the finished article but has great pace, energy, a good delivery and will bleed for the club. His potential was shown when he more or less nullified Robben, and not many FB’s do that. I doubt he has the consistency and full instinct yet to make performances like that his permanent level for a season or 2, but that is where BS comes in and Jenkinson can be phased in as a number 1 FB with less stress if BS stays. Also having an experienced FB around will likely accelerate and enhance CJ’s learning of the trade.
Jake. I am the same. The end of this season (and last) has been death by a thousand cuts.
Those of nervous dispositions dont read the following.
Just been listening to arsenal tv with tom watt. I more nervous now than ever… even adrian clarke now fears the curse of mike dean…. i think its 1 win in 15 in the last 15 games of ours he’s reffed…. sorry !!!!!!!!
Bah.. don’t know what all of you are worried about. Thousand cuts, nervous disposition etc etc.. Yeah Wigan are a threat, Mike Dean is a threat (not necessarily in that order) But remember that we are The Arsenal. We’ll win both our games, we’ll qualify for the CL, strengthen in the summer, and get back to being right at the top where we belong.
No on can be allowed to stand in our way. Least of all a runt of a referee, and some relegation fodder team. We’ll be at our best tomorrow, and that’ll be enough to win.
To compound the fears…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/9800224/Why-Mike-Dean-is-Arsenals-least-favourite-referee.html
And as for his pro-Wigan bias…
Untold Arsenal studied 291 Wigan games and found their average win percentage was 27.84%…
…except when Mike Dean referees them, in which case it goes up to 50% win rate.
We are going to have to put in a performance that leaves no room for the ref to interfere…
Cheer up fellas we could be Spurs fans 🙂
I will take full responsibility for tomorrow’s night result not going our way…..but I have factored in Exile Seniors attendance and think that 2 Seniors > 1 junior. Therefore a win for Arsenal is assured…..altho last time this attendance ratio occurred we lost to Swansea…..maybe I should have stayed away.
I am a superstitious old bean, yesterday I turned on the Spud game to find them 1-0 down, I should have switched straight off. When Spuds were away to Wigan I was on North Norfolk coast finally acquiring a signal to access BBC Web I saw they were losing, then I constantly refreshed until they had drawn level.
So I feel that I have definite Jonah status I’m afraid. Here’s the deal islf we score first I will leave, if we are losing at half time I will leave 🙂
Keep Sagna. We don’t want to have to rebuild half the team and there are other more pressing positions we need to fill/improve.
As for an all-time crappy Dark Lord 11, how the hell has no one seen fit to mention JUAN SEBASTIAN VERON!
A veritable snip at £28,000,000 if I remember correctly, though to be fair they did recoup some of that when they flogged him to the Chavs.
So Mancini is sacked, City have tried to come up with words that don’t make it about trophies. By saying the only target achieved was CL qualification but also that he failed to bring “a holistic approach” to management. I assume this is reference to constant criticism of the boards failure to add last summer.
That holistic approach probably rules out Mourinho. 🙂
GiE – snap! I was in Exeter with almost no radio signal, but I kept on tuning and retuning until they equalized. I am sure it was my fault, sorry guys
Morning all
PSG Fans rioting here in Paris yesterday to celebrate title win. Revolting, the lot of them 🙂
Is that Beckham’s fourth title in four countries?
Not looking good for watching/listening to game tonight 😦
GiE
Haven’t City already approached Pellegrini?
48 hours without broadband, not good.
My IP address now says Scunthorpe!
Thanks for the posts. Not read all the comments.
Excited about matchday, though not being able to watch or listen would certainly be the stress-free option.
My comment is now awaiting moderation, ffs
Morning Guys (and Gal) 🙂
Chas
Your fault. It was the video content. Highly inappropriate.
My comment before the last one, that is.
Ah, it includes the sentence, my IP address now says Sc*nthorpe (which it does). Do you think it’s the front bottom inclusion which has sent it into moderation, as there’s no other blasphemy. 🙂
48 hours without broadband and now wordpress is behaving poorly. 😦
Could be. Then again Rasp could have added the word “Chas” into banned words. Just for a ROLF
I went to see these the other night. Great fun.
Cheers for that Chas
I’m in a quiet hotel breakfast room, and forget to slither the volume knob to mute!
Hahahaha.
Croissant and expresso?
Never have bread/cereals for breakfast. Energy killer.
Fruit, protein, then straight into the “doubles and fags”. Health freak me 🙂
I couldn’t survive without my oats first thing in the morning.
the only way I can tackle tonight’s game is by convincing myself that it doesn’t matter if we lose, and it doesn’t matter if we don’t get the 4th. Far worse things happen in life.
Nothing worse than Spuds finishing above us 😦
I hope that Wigan celebrated the FA win for 3 days, and at least not less than the PSG mob
Morning all
Looking forward to going to football tonight and hoping that all my good luck charms are carrying their magic.
chas – it was indeed the mention of Sc*nthorpe that got you into trouble 😉
Rasp. I need to adjust the post. Can you stop editing for a couple of minutes …….
And Wilshere will not start so please take him out of the team
Morning everyone..
You know. I think I realised why people are so nervous about the matches we have left. I’m guessing here, but I think it’s to do with the fact that this seems like an end of an era of austerity for us. We can sense the new signings coming in along with the new funds. But we daren’t hope for that until we secure a CL spot because otherwise that might not come true.
Raddy – have you done what you needed to do?
Who do you want instead of Jack? Rasp might not be able to get in and change that until after it’s published.
Shard,
I can only speak for myself but my concerns are that there will not be Totteringham Day this year. My family and I always celebrate with a champagne dinner and an open top bus tour around the city.
The prospect of playing in the Europa is actually quite exciting – we certainly have a better chance of winning it than the CL!
As to austerity – we bought Cazorla, Pod, Gerv, Ox, OG, Arteta, BFG, Monreal, etc in the last 2 years.
Peaches. It’s OK. I have made an amendment which explains my error.
Oooooh, clever old you 😉
BR
Would you be this nervous if we were assured of 4th but Spurs might finish 3rd?
Interesting to say that Totteringham Day can be so important. It took a few trips to England to understand the rivalry, but perhaps I don’t quite get the full extent of it yet.
Those signings are actually the reason I’ve been feeling optimistic as well. Some people still feel we’re always looking to buy youth etc. But that has changed in the past 2 years. We have had to sell some players to get these guys in, but it has shown a willingness to not look to recoup transfer fees. I’m actually not that nervous myself. But I can’t wait to get a CL spot wrapped up, and see what next season has in store for us.
peaches. 😀 😀
Shard. Growing up within walking distance of both grounds explains my concerns. And a very good question about 3rd & 4th.
……… New Post …………………..
Morning all
Well D Day part one has arrived and I fully expect us to win but regardless what that worm Pardrew says I feel that a draw will be the best we will manage at Newcastle and I really don’t expect Spurs to choke against Sunderland.
A combination of recent bad buys, no motivation when it really matters, a dreadful record against the other top 6 sides, failure to win enough Home games , repeated injuries to more than our fair share of players, not a deep enough quality squad,has cost us dearly.
Bale has basically done what RVP did for us and a lack of a true great striker is another of our undoings this season.
Shame as though not always pretty but we have had a decent run in.
I actually hope that if Spurs pip us it might generate some real injection of money into the squad and this socialist wage structure doesn’t fool me,it’s a bit like after the horse has bolted.
Going back to the remark about Podolski not benefiting from the winter break he had in germany, well to me that’s bollox as it has been reported numerous times that he is carrying an injury which needs an operation.
Finally as this is an uplift post wait till I really get my teeth into it, but i leave you with this thought that if Walcott is now our highest earner god help us all. 🙂
Adebayor, Nasri and Van Persie would qualify as mercenaries. By definition, I think it’s someone who’ll go fight for anyone’s “cause” if they pay enough money. In the added sense that they all engineered their moves with a bunch of rhetoric “justifying” themselves. Clichy was somewaht different, but only in the sense that he’d given us 8 years (and played a lot of games. Fabregas and Henry fit a different criteria, even ‘though as fans, it’s hard to accept them leaving because of their “love” of Barcelona, mostly because it makes me puke.
BR……I find the option of having Sagna as a squad player for the RB and CB position next season very attractive. He can help coach Jenks and has shown, in at least one game, that he has the stuff to play alongside our fabulous 3 in the substitute CB role as well. He knows the Club and Wengerball and can score on important occasions, so this is a win-win situation for Club and player.
Bringing in another unknown CB would be risky, but another RB would be very sensible…..given our tendency to lose players to injury.
Mike, don’t kid yourself –
Fabregas is a mercenary – his departure from the club was orchestrated and we got far less than we would have in open market.
He stopped trying 6 or 7 months out when it become apparent that he was going to barca.
He tried to be Thierry-esq about how he alway loved us but had to go else where, blAH BLAH… Only Henry gets to talk that – only Henry has earned the right to leave voluntarily on good terms.
I don’t get the resentment against Nasri, he never bad mouthed the club when he was going, he never particularily looked like he was forcing the move (especially compared to DNA boy) he played his heart out against liverpool even when it was clear he would be off to city… Wenger and Kroenke sold him… ok we never loved the guy but why do we hate him so much?