Why Bacary Sagna is indispensable to Arsenal

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 26: Bacary Sagna of Arsenal is challenged by Yannick Bolasie of Crystal Palace during the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on October 26, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

With a recruit in Mesut Ozil and the resurgent Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud, Arsenal are topping the Premier League table with some panache. Some of their play has been mesmeric and has earned comparisons with the Invincibles of 2003-04. This has all come on the back of the culmination of Arsene Wenger’s Emirates project, which was meant to keep Arsenal financially strong while they transitioned from Highbury to their state of the art stadium in Ashburton Grove.

As a result of their financial prudence, Arsenal saw a lot of transition in their team over the period. However, one member of the team remained quietly constant in one position. Bought in the summer of 2007, Bacary Sagna has been a fixture in the Arsenal squad for all the time he has been there, featuring 186 times for the Gunners.

While not possessing the pace of Dani Alves or the blast of Maicon, Bacary sagna provides something unique at the right back position. The quality of being a cultured right back. Jamie Carragher commented once that “If you are a full back, you are either a failed defender or a failed winger”, which is true to a large extent. In recent years, top teams have moved away from the traditional full back position to a more attacking wing back as the first choice in their formations.

Jordi Alba at Barcelona and Marcelo at Real Madrid are top examples of that. With the onus on fast, attacking football, the traditional full backs are considered too slow and too clumsy in football right now. Hence, they are either pushed to be central defenders, or to modify their game as wing backs. With Arsenal however, this has been different.

Arsenal have been blessed with quality full backs, from Nigel Winterburn to Ashley Cole. These were natural full backs who were there to defend first and attack when they could. When Arsenal found a dearth of them in their own academy, they went out and found a quality replacement in Sagna. Sagna had been constantly performing in the Auxerre team which also had Abou Diaby, who would be his future Arsenal teammate.

Positioned as deep lying right back, Sagna showed excellent work rate and tackling qualities at Auxerre, making the League Un team of the year, which Attracted Arsenal to make the move for him. Once at Arsenal, he was put straight into the first team. He played a total of 41 times in his first season, making an excellent impression on the fans and critics alike. Where he lacked for skill, he made up with excellent awareness of the game and strong physique. He scored his first goal for the club in a defeat to Chelsea.

But what endeared him most to the fans was his deciding to play against Milan just a week after his brother died prematurely. It established him as one of the most loved figures at the club, and a leader in the young dressing room. Sagna earned not just respect, but also praise, making it into the Premier League team of the year in his first year itself.

Sagna also cemented his place with the French national team, although his injury prevented him from being a part of their Euro 2008 campaign. His infrequent, but ill timed injuries would keep nagging him in the future, with him having to sit out the Euro 2012 as well.

However, he kept up his consistency with Arsenal, quickly finding his passing rhythm with the players around him. In his second season with the club, Arsenal extended his contract till 2014, thus securing the services of one of the most consistent defenders in the league.

His next four years with the club were patched with injuries, although he provided solidity to the defensive line whenever he played. His statistics are testament to this. He is one of the least dribbled by players in the league, having being dribbled past only 13 times in the 2011-2012 season in 27 games with Arsenal, while this season, having played 8 games, he has been dribbled past just 1 time, which is best in the Premier League amongst outfield players.

His great sense of positional awareness is crucial to the Gunners’ tactics of playing a high line in defence. He also combines well with Theo Walcott, covering for him when he ventures forward on his trademark runs, a player he has formed a good combination with over the years they have played together. Sagna is also an excellent tackler, unlike many fullbacks nowadays, and doesnt commit many fouls, earning only a total of 3 yellow cards last season. He also provides the team with an attacking option with his overlaps. Although, perhaps as his only weakness, his crossing over the years has been underpar, a weakness which has only been recently exposed as Arsenal have opened up more to the crossing game.

What he loses with his crossing, he makes up with his physique and aerial prowess. Sagna won 66% of his aerial duels last season and provides the perfect outlet for Szczesny with his goal kicks. With his aerial prowess and excellent sense of positioning, it was only time before Arsene Wenger realised his value as a center back. Sagna played center back for Arsenal during the end of last season and impressed with his brave performances, giving options to the manager.

Sagna, for many years, has remained a constant rock in a sea of change. He saw superstars being made and leave the club with their ambitions, never complaining about the attitude of the club or its direction. He is one of the longest serving Arsenal players, and arguably the best right back in the league, if not the world, and has served the club loyally without his sights deviating to greener pastures.

He might not be as big a star as his attacking counterparts, but his skill, knowledge of the game and professionalism make him one of the most underrated players in the league. He has built a stature at the club and his departure could be more harmful to the club’s ambitions than of Fabregas or Van Persie. The manager is a shrewd man and certainly realises that. Although it is yet to be seen if he is offered a new contract.