Tag Archives: Arsenal

The Revitalisation of Bacary Sagna

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During the middle of last season, as Arsenal’s form took a huge dip, a lot of criticism was thrown Bacary Sagna’s way. His first drop of form in an Arsenal shirt coincided with the rise of a ‘local lad’ in Carl Jenkinson and there was plenty of chatter that we should be looking to dump the French International.

Sagna has been not only one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers but also one of the Premier League’s most consistent players during his time in England. Always a solid 7 or 8 out of 10.

Always keeping flashy wingers in check, he reminded the world that a full back’s job was defend as well as attack. Whilst he was never a Dani Alves of Emmanuel Eboue going forward, he was, in my opinion, the best full back in the world when it came to defending. Strong, quick, great in the air and a brilliant reader of the game. But last season, he dropped off massively.

A lot pointed to the fact that many of his ‘friends’ had left the club. That he was unhappy. That he was not giving 100%. That having seen Cesc, Song, RVP and more leave in a short amount of time, he had become disillusioned with life at the club. No friends and no future at Arsenal.

People were saying if an offer came in over the summer for him, we should take it. That in Carl Jenkinson and Hector Bellerin we had replacements. And there was good value for that argument. He looked out of form and out of shape.

However, what people seemed to forget is that it was his first dip in form. The saying form is temporary class is permanent. And that Bacary Sagna was only 30.

This was not a 35 year old full back we were talking about, this was a top, top International. What I found interesting at the time is many of the same people who bemoaned the club for letting go of experience too early were so quick to jump on the ‘Sagna Out’ bandwagon. This a 30 year old regular International who had played 350 games, of which 250 of which were for Arsenal.

What people also seemed to forget was that during the 2011/12 season Bacary Sagna broke his leg. Not once but twice. He only returned in October 2012, and did not play a full 90 minutes until November.

He got a lot of criticism for ‘not having heart’ and ‘being unfit for the shirt’ but in reality, maybe he was a tad mentally scared by 2 leg breaks in 1 season, and was struggling for fitness having returned to the squad just in time for the hectic winter period. In hindsight, maybe we as fans got on his back without fully understanding the situation.

Despite the furore around his future, at not point did Bacary Sagna shouls any desire to leave. And the 2013/14 season has definitely seen one of revitalisation. A full pre-season under his belt. No International tournaments. And his double leg break being out of sight out of mind 2 years ago, he is now back to his consistent best.

And where he has perhaps been most important is at centre back. Whilst many screamed that we should spend millions on an Ashley Williams or Mamadou Sakho, Sagna has shown he is more than capable to be 4th choice centre back. None of those mentioned would have joined Arsenal to be 4th choice, and none were good enough for our 1st 11. It is hard to name a centre back in world football who would have come to Arsenal to be 4th choice centre back, and not been a Squillaci or Silvestre. Sagna has done a job.

At right back he is also getting back to his best. Realising he does not need to bomb forward all the time, he is returning to be a top defensive player. Yes, Carl Jenkinson might be better at crossing and driving forward, but a defenders job is to defend, and Bacary Sagna is far superior.

The worry is Sagna’s contract runs out at the end of the season. His experience and ability is something that the club can not lose. Jenkinson is still raw. He can learn from Sagna. And the healthy competition between the 2 should see both continually strive to be better. Add in his importance at centre back, I would be more than happy for Arsene Wenger to break his ‘1 year for a 30 year old’ rule and offer the Frenchman a 3 year deal.

Bacary Sagna is invaluable to us.

Oh yeah, his bird is also well fit.Keenos

The Arsenal and Me – Wayne’s Story

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The date was Saturday 15th February 1992 and me and my younger brother John had asked our mum for some money to go watch Arsenal play Sheffield Wednesday, but to our disappointment our mum was short of money that day and instead she gave us 50p each to go buy some sweets, we were on the way to our local shops on Woodberry Down estate to spend our 50p pocket money, I was 12 years old and John was 10 years old.

As we crossed the road John found £35 just laying there near a car wheel some poor person had lost their money so we done the right thing and rounded up a few of our mates and paid for them to get in to watch The Arsenal!

As you will know in them days it only cost us £4 (child tickets) to get into Highbury so with £35 in our pockets £24 for 6 of us to get in and enough for a burger and programme.

We watched Arsenal thrash Sheffield Wednesday 7-1 with goals from Campbell(2) Limpar(2) Smith Merson & Wright as a 12 year old watching the team I love, standing in the north bank singing dancing it was a atmosphere which football is missing now and as an Arsenal fan all we have these days are memories!

Well that’s my best Arsenal memory I hope you enjoy.

Wayne

If you would like to tell your Arsenal story, click here

Time for Europe to stand up and take note – The Arsenal are back

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It was not just the win last night which is getting Arsenal fan’s excited. It is the manner in which we won 2-0. It was a show of brilliant attacking football. We only got 2-0 goals, but you feel we could have got more. It was arguably the best Arsenal performance in terms of style and substance in a long, long time.

The play was clinical and direct. With 63% of the possession, Arsenal dominated the play. But it was the passing for passing sake as in previous season. This was direct passes driving the team forward. It has been a long time since an Arsenal side has passed the ball so accurately, but also so hard. Gone was the tappy tappy football. It was hard into feet, knowing the player receiving the ball had the talent and technique to control and pass it on. A pass accuracy of 89.1%. It was exhilarating.

This was a very comfortable win against a very good Napoli side. A Napoli side which beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the last round. A Napoli side who many were tipping to finish above Arsenal in the group. A Napoli side who were some people’s dark horse to win the Champions League. A Napoli side who spend €90million this summer. A Napoli who have P 6 W 5 D 1 in the Serie A this season. This was not a poor team.

Arsenal played scintillating football from start to finish. Dominating the play. Dangerous in attack. Stingy in defence. Yesterday was a coming of age for this Arsenal side. A show to the world that we are a team to be recognised with.

And lets not forget, this Arsenal side which destroyed Napoli was without Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and more. This was by no means a full strength Arsenal side. Or a fully fit XI. And that is what is scary. This Arsenal side is good. Very good.

Arsenal are top of the most competitive domestic league in Europe. Top of the Champions League ‘Group of Death.’ It is time for the rest of European football to stand up and take note – The Arsenal are back.

Keenos