With Arsenal sitting proud at the summit of the Barclays Premier League table – albeit after a mere five games – a large portion of the credit, and rightly so, has gone to obvious candidates such as Oliver Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and record signing Mesut Özil. But one man has slowly re-built his confidence and raised his game to return to the standard at which Arsenal fans have grown accustomed to over the years.
Bacary Sagna has shown the type of form that earned him a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in both the 2007-08 & 2010-11 seasons. The £9 million signing from Auxerre has been a key part of Arsene Wenger’s side in the six years he has been at the club, despite the club’s inability to lift silverware. Unfortunately, Sagna suffered two horrific leg breaks in less than 18 months, which ruled him out of Euro 2012. This also brought with it an inevitable dip in form – which was very noticeable during the 2012-13 season. This gave a chance to Arsenal-fan Carl Jenkinson to push his claim for a starting berth over the Frenchman. Jenkinson notched up 14 league appearances for Arsenal during the 2012-13 season, including a string of solid defensive displays. This could only have cast more doubt in the mind of Sagna regarding his first team slot as the Arsenal right back.
These kind of issues, coupled with his ongoing contract breakdowns, meant Sagna’s form really suffered. The model of consistency that was Bacary Sagna had begun to look jaded.
On the 9th February 2013 against Sunderland, Sagna would begin a new chapter in his career. Like Lillian Thuram and other great players, he, a wing-back, filled in at centre-back in the absence of Laurent Koscielny. He performed heroically throughout the 90 minutes; using his pace and dominant aerial ability to snuff out danger, whilst also receiving high praise from manager Arsene Wenger and fans alike.
It’s almost as if we have gone full circle. Sagna has started the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League campaign brilliantly for Arsenal. He’s played in various positions – meaning Arsenal no longer have to rely on the services of such defenders as Ignasi Miquel and Sebastien Squilliaci – and he has featured in all five league games. The icing on the Bacary Sagna turnaround cake came against Stoke, where he scored his first league goal since the infamous header in the North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
Sagna’s recent injuries really look to have focused the player. He realises that he doesn’t have many years left and has started putting in the kind of performances we saw years ago.
It is for these reasons that I am making Bacary Sagna my pick of the bunch so far this season.
And providing the squad does not receive any long term injuries to key performers, i don’t see any reason to why the club – with Sagna as one of the veteran leaders – can’t push for major honors this year.
