Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has said that the Gunners should sign Newcastle striker Alexander Isak
The Gunners have been linked to signing Isak
with many reports suggesting that the Newcastle striker is Arsenal’s dream target as a striker
He has scored 22 goals for the Magpies in 31 Premier League games this season
Isak is more likely to stay at Newcastle should they finish in a Champions League place
Sagna has said that Arsenal should sign Isak rather than their other striker targets, as he is the best fit for Mikel Arteta‘s side
Bacary Sagna was speaking to Paddy Power: “Alexander Isak suits Arsenal’s style of play perfectly
He has a young mentality and is very clinical in front of goal
Arsenal is a different team at the minute for these players
They have good enough players to create the danger themselves.”
“If you are performing well in one team though
it doesn’t mean you’re going to perform well in another though
Arsenal need to sign a striker in the summer with a purpose – like a number nine
“They’ve had big injuries like Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz
That was a blow and is probably why it’s been so difficult to keep the consistency offensively
mainly due to the fact that he could cost upwards of £100m
and that Newcastle will likely not be willing to sell the Swedish international
If not, the most likely signing for Arsenal would be Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, who they have reportedly been in talks with in recent weeks
Gyokeres has scored 38 goals in 30 Liga Portugal matches for Sporting this season
showing himself to be one of the most prolific strikers in European football
Click here to see Arsenal’s most recent injury news and expected return dates.
Dylan Oakley joined the National World Network sites in summer 2024 after spending time writing for DerbyWorld. He has since become the main Arsenal reporter for GoonerNews and also reports for LondonWorld.
Support non-profit journalism and perspectives from around the world.
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a Senegalese politician and member of the parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
was attacked at an opposition party conference in Togo
This country is becoming increasingly intolerant of even the mildest form of public criticism
L'autorité administrative compétente ne peut prononcer l'ajournement ou l'interdiction d'une réunion ou d'une manifestation publique organisée dans un lieu privé que lorsque celle-ci est susceptible de troubler l'ordre public
La décision d'ajournement ou d'interdiction ne peut être prise que si l'autorité administrative compétente et les organisateurs de la réunion ou de la manifestation n'ont pas trouvé ensemble
des moyens adéquats pour éviter ces éventuels troubles à l'ordre public
The relevant administrative authority may only postpone or prohibit a meeting or demonstration in a private setting if it is likely to disrupt public order
They may only postpone or prohibit an event if the relevant authorities and event organizers disagree in preliminary discussions on suitable actions to prevent any disruption to public order
parliament will now select the next president of the Togolese Republic for a single six-year term
During this conference, Guy Marius Sagna and 20 or so Togolese politicians and journalists came under attack. According to information from the Togolese civil society organization, the Collective Associations Against Impunity in Togo (CACIT):
(…)des individus qui manifestement se trouvaient dans l’assemblée ont soudainement surgi et exercé une violence sanglante sur les personnes présentes. Ils auraient notamment fait usage de coups de poings, de chaises, de briques et de pavés dans cette manœuvre déplorable qui a porté atteinte à l’intégrité physique de plusieurs personnes dont les honorables Guy Marius Sagna et Brigitte Kafui Adjamagbo-Johnson
(…)Individuals who were obviously at the meeting suddenly jumped out and launched a bloody attack on those present. During this appalling incident, these individuals reportedly flung punches, chairs, bricks, and stones, thus injuring several people, including Guy Marius Sagna and the CDPA Secretary General Brigitte Kafui Adjamagbo-Johnson
On October 1, 2024, Radio France Internationale (RFI) quoted the Togolese national police as saying Sagna was aware of the illegal nature of this conference beforehand:
La police nationale togolaise a assuré (…) travailler étroitement avec les autorités judiciaires (…) pour faire toute la lumière sur les actes qui se sont produits
(…) Guy Marius Sagna avait été avisé de l'interdiction de la réunion projetée” et qu'il avait “été dûment informé des risques que comportaient ces activités (…) en violation des lois en vigueur au Togo
The Togolese national police assured they were working closely with the judicial authorities to investigate this incident thoroughly
Guy Marius Sagna had been duly informed of the ban on the planned conference and the risks associated with activities violating applicable laws in Togo
On the night of the incident, government spokesperson and Minister of Communications Yawa Kouigan told RFI:
Les circonstances déplorables dont nous parlons ne doivent pas nous amener à apporter des accusations gratuites (…) Je pense d'autant moins qu'on devrait pointer un doigt accusateur sur le Togo et sur ses autorités que la la liberté de réunion
The deplorable circumstances we speak about mustn't lead us to make unfounded accusations (…)
I also don’t think we should point the finger at Togo and its authorities
as freedom of assembly and expression are not in question here
In the hours following this attack, reactions and comments flooded social media networks. On the evening of September 29, 2024, Togolese politician Nathaniel Olympio alerted the public on X (formerly Twitter):
Dans le Togo dirigé par @FEGnassingbeoù le panafricanisme est le nouveau crédo du pouvoir
tenir une rencontre entre africains au siège d’un parti politique
cela provoque un déferlement de miliciens violents qui dispersent la rencontre
Le député sénégalais est de passage à Lomé dans le cadre d'une session délocalisée du Parlement de la CEDEAO
To be continued . . . pic.twitter.com/Sx0Hvxahjg
— Nathaniel Olympio (@nathanielolymp) September 29, 2024
a meeting between African citizens at a political party headquarters led to a mob of violent militiamen breaking up the meeting
The Senegalese politician was visiting Lomé as part of a delocalized meeting of the ECOWAS parliament
— ChicVoisin🇧🇯🇨🇮 (@LeFouParolier) September 29, 2024
Another account known as Palace added:
C'est complètement inacceptable ce manque de tolérance. Cette violence gratuite et lâche n'a pas sa place au Togo! Les autorités togolaises @PresidenceTg @FEGnassingbe doivent assumer leurs responsabilités en matière de sécurité des personnes et des biens
— Palace (@aremsbee) September 29, 2024
This intolerance is completely unacceptable. This senseless and cowardly violence has no place in Togo! The Togolese authorities @PresidenceTg @FEGnassingbe must assume responsibility for the people’s safety
In an interview with Radio France Internationale
the spokesperson for the civil society coalition Front Citoyen Togo Debout (Togo Citizens Stand Up)
C'est une espèce de sentiment de honte qu'un étranger
un frère sénégalais puisse subir autant de violences
Cela démontre qu'une fois encore au Togo
la violence est instrumentalisée par le pouvoir pour empêcher les gens de se réunir et pour empêcher les gens de s'exprimer
should suffer such violence instills a sense of shame in Togo
This attack is yet another example of the powers that be using violence to prevent people from holding meetings and being heard
What’s more, the ECOWAS parliament also condemned this incident that one of its members suffered in Lomé on September 29:
Le Parlement de la CEDEAO rassure l’opinion qu’il suit de près les mesures prises par les autorités togolaises pour garantir la sécurité du député et les autres dispositions nécessaires dans de telles circonstances
The ECOWAS parliament wants to assure the public that it is closely monitoring the measures the Togolese authorities implement to ensure its member’s safety and the other necessary provisions in such circumstances
Senegal itself calls for the Togolese authorities to open an investigation into the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice
Several news sites in the West African subregion have published articles on this deplorable incident, which goes against the fundamental principles of ECOWAS and its parliament. RFI published the article “Anger and indignation after an attack on Guy Marius Sagna,” summarizing various African media outlet publications
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The Sky Blues are once again in the thick of the Premier League title race
although they've slipped behind leaders Liverpool with the holiday period just around the corner
While the team may not be atop the league table right now
there have still been many positives for City to focus on
and Sagna has singled out Savinho as the one he's been most excited by so far in the campaign
"I was looking forward to seeing Oscar Bobb this season, because he had an amazing pre-season, but he got injured," Sagna told Mega Dice. "I'm really looking forward to seeing him back in the squad and playing when he’s ready because he’s a player that can have a big impact at Man City.
"If I have to say a name of a player that has amazed me, it's Savinho. Savinho is amazing. He's a copy of [Riyad] Mahrez. The movement, the fact that he can take on players one-on-one is exciting."
ECOWAS was created on May 28, 1975, to facilitate cooperation and integration. It was founded on the premise of community to defend the interests of its people. Like the National Assembly of each member state, the institution’s founders established an ECOWAS parliament on July 24, 1993, to achieve several objectives:
Renforcer la démocratie représentative dans la Communauté ; Contribuer à la promotion de la paix
de la sécurité et de la stabilité en Afrique de l’Ouest ; Informer et sensibiliser les populations de la région ouest-africaine sur les enjeux de l’intégration ; Promouvoir et défendre les principes des droits de l’homme et de la démocratie
la responsabilité et la bonne gouvernance ; Contribuer à la mise en œuvre efficiente et efficace des objectifs et des politiques de la Communauté ; etc…
Strengthen representative democracy in the community; Contribute to the promotion of peace
and stability in West Africa; Inform and alert the public about integration issues in the West African region; Promote and defend human rights
and good governance; Contribute to the effective and efficient implementation of community objectives and policies
a person must first be a member of parliament in said country
thus casting doubt on its leaders and their policies
The ECOWAS parliament often addresses these issues
of pursuing policies that impoverished the people of West Africa
Here is a clip from the video showing the argument between the two parliamentarians:
Nous sommes les pays les plus riches de la planète
Tant que l’on dira que l’Afrique de l’Ouest est pauvre
cela signifie qu’ils font partie du problème
Mais pourquoi ne pas dire appauvrissement
We are the wealthiest countries on the planet
As long as we say that West Africa is poor
Adjaratou Traoré subsequently responded:
La liberté de parole ne veut pas dire que vous devez dire n’importe quoi à l’endroit des chefs d’État
Vous ne pouvez pas vous adresser aux chefs d’État de cette manière
Freedom of speech doesn’t mean you should just say anything about the heads of state
You can’t address heads of state like that
According to ECOWAS, the parliamentarians’ primary concern is the people’s everyday well-being
The organization stipulates that all means should be taken to ensure leaders fulfill their commitments
The Senegalese parliamentarian simply fulfilled his role by calling out certain leaders
Guy Marius Sagna also raised some other significant issues
like dictatorship and restrictions on freedom with parliament:
Mon discours au parlement de la CEDEAO sur la dictature néocoloniale au Togo, les interdictions arbitraires de manifester, le coup d'État constitutionnel annonciateur d'un coup d'État militaire… pic.twitter.com/uNcEXLZ3LS
— Guy Marius SAGNA (@GuyMariusSagna) July 12, 2024
My speech to the ECOWAS parliament on the neo-colonial dictatorship in Togo, the arbitrary bans on protests, and the constitutional coup d’état heralding a military coup… pic.twitter.com/uNcEXLZ3LS
The first show of support for Guy Marius Sagna came from Togo. Twenty or so Togolese civil society organizations expressed their support for Sagna for defending the interests of the ECOWAS people. Togolese politician Nathaniel Olympio echoed this sentiment on X:
— Nathaniel Olympio (@nathanielolymp) July 24, 2024
Support for the Senegalese parliamentarian Guy Marius Sagna
threatened with expulsion from the ECOWAS parliament by a Togolese parliamentarian
The “Don’t Touch My Constitution” political group strongly condemns the threats against Senegalese parliamentarian Guy Marius Sagna in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) parliament
This Senegalese parliamentarian is the target of an expulsion petition that a Togolese parliamentarian launched
“Don’t Touch My Constitution” offers its unwavering support to the Senegalese parliamentarian who defends the people of this community within the ECOWAS parliament
especially the Togolese people who express their gratitude to the Senegalese people
Mr Sagna was brave enough to expose the misconduct that the citizens of this community denounced
He also pointed out the corruption of the heads of state and governments that act as a union
By highlighting the organization’s shortcomings and faults
some of his colleagues are so scared that they want to silence and expel him from parliament
This could happen in a country that doesn’t respect democratic standards
Mr Guy Marius Sagan’s campaign in the ECOWAS parliament appears to be an extension to the views that the president of the Republic of Senegal
expressed at the 65th ECOWAS Heads of State and Government summit
“To strengthen the trust between the people and their leaders as per the ECOWAS people-oriented projects
I strongly urge that greater attention be paid to constitutional and republican order by avoiding constitutional revisions and operations for electoral purposes
These are catalysts of conflict that throw countries into turmoil
Senegal is clearly responding to the expectations of its people
This is why “Don’t Touch My Constitution” encourages Senegal to continue its efforts to establish a people-oriented ECOWAS
pic.twitter.com/9c4PCAF00m
Nathaniel Olympio also shared his views on Sagan’s stance towards Togo
— Nathaniel Olympio (@nathanielolymp) July 12, 2024
Similarly, another Togolese political figure, Habia Nicodème
Le député Sénégalais Guy Marius Sagna s'exprimant devant le parlement de la CEDEAO présidé par une député togolaise a averti le gouvernement togolais qu'il peut y avoir un coup d'état ou un mouvement populaire qui peut emporter faure gnassingbé à tout moment. pic.twitter.com/nf5EQK7vbC
— Habia Nicodeme, MBA (@NicodemeHabia) July 11, 2024
Speaking to the ECOWAS parliament, which a Togolese member of parliament chairs, Senegalese parliamentarian Guy Marius Sagna warned the Togolese government that a coup d'état or popular movement could overthrow Faure Gnassingbé at any given moment. pic.twitter.com/nf5EQK7vbC
In Côte d'Ivoire, Adjaratou Traoré has come under criticism. As can be seen in this CI-News TV program that Sissoko Sora Demba
a citizen from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)
— Sissoko Sora Demba (@DelphineSankara) July 24, 2024
André Kangni Afanou, a Togolese civil society figure, is starting to question the future of ECOWAS. On Facebook
on savait presque qu'il ne fallait pas attendre grand chose des Chefs d'Etat et de gouvernement ou de la Commission de la CEDEAO
On commencait à penser que quelque que chose de bon pourrait venir du Parlement.Mais alors
que penser de cette prise de position du Bureau du Parlement de la CEDEAO
Les membres du Bureau auraient ils vraiment peur de “se faire gronder” par les Chef d'Etat ?A cette allure
ne risque t-on pas de nous annoncer dans les jours à venir que le parlement serait dépouiller de ses prérogatives et que les députés devraient soumettre leurs déclarations à leur gouvernements pour approbation avant de les présenter ?Devant qui les députés sont ils vraiment redevables
Les Chfs d'Etat ou les peuples ?Inéluctablement
Soit la CEDEAO entame se donne le courage de se réformer pour répondre aux aspirations des peuples
soit elle reste dans une posture conservatrice et alors
elle creuserait le fossée avec les citoyens et risque de courir vers sa perte.L'histoire s'écrit sous nos yeux
A chacun d'assumer ses choix.Que Dieu nous aide
aren’t we at risk of hearing that parliament will be stripped of its powers in the coming days and that parliamentarians must submit their statements to their governments for approval before presenting them
To whom are parliamentarians really accountable
We inevitably find ourselves at a crossroads
ECOWAS will either summon up the courage to reform itself to meet the people’s expectations or maintain its conservative stance
thus running the risk of widening the gap with its citizens and ultimately leading to its demise
BUREAU STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE ECOWAS PARLIAMENT
The Bureau wishes to express its deep concern and disapproval over the verbal excesses towards the Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS member states by one of us during our session
we are free to express our different points of view and consider dissenting opinions
provided that these views are based on the values of respect
and cooperation that underpin our regional organization
any unparliamentary remark will not be accepted or tolerated
as it does not align with the spirit of fraternity and collaboration that should take precedence in the ECOWAS region and beyond
The Bureau recognizes and appreciates the efforts of our founding fathers
who have long worked to strengthen our integration and unity to promote peace
the Bureau strongly condemns any statement or action that contradicts the ECOWAS principles and values and casts the institution into disrepute
The Bureau strongly urges all parliamentarians to continue working in the interest of regional integration and the well-being of our people
Our challenges require stronger cooperation and constructive dialogue
The ECOWAS parliament remains committed to promoting democracy
Being a community parliament does not exempt us from the obligation to respect and show courtesy towards our heads of state and government
At a time when ECOWAS leaders are stepping up their efforts and appealing for Burkina Faso
and Niger to return to the organization after withdrawing in January 2024
a controversy like this is unlikely to restore the organization’s image
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Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has taken supporters to task for criticising Martin Odegaard’s performances
The Norwegian has experienced a dip in form this season but, speaking to Paddy Power
Sagna suggested that there are mitigating factors for why Odegaard hasn’t been at his absolute best:
“I’m surprised to see the criticism towards Martin Ødegaard to be honest
He’s not been as decisive or directly involved in as many goals as he was last season but he’s a good player.”
it’s been difficult for him to get as many assists this season
but Arsenal have been playing without a number nine which impacts how decisive he can be because it restricts him from playing as well
The players up front are not playing how a pure number nine would be.”
“If he was behind a natural number nine
his assist numbers would be higher because his delivery will end up being converted into goals
Odegaard has always been focused and always been professional and instead of criticising him
It’s difficult to catch Liverpool but they’ve lost two games in a row
and you never know because football is all about confidence
they should support the team no matter what.”
Odegaard has undoubtedly been less productive than in previous years
he averaged a goal contribution every 2.18 matches
but it is not the dramatic drop-off that some critics have asserted
The link-up play between the Gunners captain and Bukayo Saka has been the hallmark of the London club’s title challenges over the past few seasons
Saka has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since December and Odegaard has clearly missed playing with the England international
With Saka set to return to fitness shortly after the international break
it would not be a surprise if Odegaard’s productivity in the final third improves
If you would like to read more stories like this, visit this page for the Latest Arsenal News
You can also keep up to date via our Facebook page and follow us on X
David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years
Having started as an intern at Snack Media
he took up his current role as content writer for National World's Football News Network
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Ex-Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna would love to see Paul Pogba join the club at the conclusion of his doping ban
Pogba is nearing the end of an 18-month suspension after testing positive for banned substance DHEA in August 2023
The Frenchman was given an initial four-year suspension which was recently cut to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport
The former Manchester United and Juventus star is now free to resume football duties in March 2025 and is already eyeing a return to the international scene ahead of the 2026 World Cup
Pogba remains under contract with Juventus and is ready to fight for his place upon his return
Juventus has since revamped their project having offloaded many of the club’s big earners such as Federico Chiesa and Adrien Rabiot
Pogba also fits into that mould and reports in Italy suggest Pogba could be the next star to be offloaded as part of new boss Thiago Motta’s revolution
That could open the door for a return to the Premier League, more specifically Arsenal
and Sagna believes the north London club would provide the perfect landing spot for the midfielder
“It would be great – he has experience; he loves to play with young players around him – that is when he is most efficient,” Sagna said
that was when he was most efficient – he had friends around him.
and I see him performing in an Arsenal shirt
and he’ll be back with a desire to get back into a good space and play football again.”
Pogba spoke about the impact his ban had on him last week and took the opportunity to plead his innocence
“I am not a cheater,” he told Sky Sports
“I accept responsibility of taking the supplement but I didn’t triple check it – even if it came from a professional
“So even when everything happened people said: ‘we know Paul
he wouldn’t have known and it won’t have been on purpose’
I like to win fairly and people know that.”
Do not sell or share my personal information
Arsenal legend Bacary Sagna has urged the club to sign Paul Pogba and Viktor Gyokeres ahead of the January transfer window
Anthony Nlebem
Anthony Nlebem
Sagna: Pogba could return to Man United under Amorim
and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content
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but he doesn't want to see the Ukrainian leave Arsenal
Zinchenko joined the club in 2022 from Manchester City and quickly became a key part of Mikel Arteta's side
but last season he saw his playing time reduced as he struggled with the team's change in tactics
The 27-year-old has been criticised for not being flexible enough in his playing style
but former Gunner Sagna doesn't think Zinchenko's struggles should mean an exit from the Emirates Stadium
Speaking to Paddy Power
Sagna explained why he believes Zinchenko could still be valuable for the North London side and why he struggled at times last season
“Oleksandr Zinchenko is good enough to do the job for Arsenal," Sagna said
"He’s a great player tactically and understands what’s asked of him by the coach
"Sometimes when you have to play in the middle of the park
you may need to be in a different position and expose yourself
The way Arsenal play has to be in the middle of the park
"He’s exposed more than before but that is because Arsenal have been having the ball more and putting more pressure on teams.”
Live on DAZN: Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez on June 29. Click here for details.
Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has said that Arsenal were right to not sign a striker in the January transfer window
One of the biggest stories surrounding the Gunners this season has been Arsenal’s lack of a striker
and the fact that they didn’t sign one both in the summer and in January
After Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus got injured, Arsenal were left without a capable striker in the squad, meaning that Mikel Arteta had to get creative and play midfielder Mikel Merino up front
However, in their last two games against Nottingham Forest and West Ham
showing that a lack of goal scorer has been damaging
for a quality striker to move in the middle of the season is very difficult because we don’t want to act in an emergency
clubs aren’t always willing to let their top strikers go so there are many elements which made it hard for Arsenal to sign a striker
I’m sure they would have tried but if the selling club raises their price to a different level
you don’t just buy them because you need them
“I hear people saying that Arsenal should have got a striker but it’s not like that
The Gunners made a bid for just one striker in January in the form of Aston Villa attacker Ollie Watkins
who has scored 12 goals for Unai Emery’s side this season
However, they offered Villa a bid for Watkins directly after they’d sold striker Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr
meaning that they would’ve lost both their top attackers should they have sold Watkins too
It was seen as a slight panic bid from the Gunners
who could have made a move for Watkins early in the window
before Villa sold Duran – then they may have been able to land their man
Click here to see Arsenal’s first team squad for the 2024/25 season and profiles for each player.
according to former France international Bacary Sagna
Mbappe is in his first season at Real Madrid after spending the first nine years of his career in the French top flight
and while the 25-year-old has started to produce for his new club
the main reason behind Mbappe's relatively slow transition to La Liga is simple
In additon to having to adjust to a new country and team environment
Sagna says Mbappe must also adapt to not being the "main man" on his new side
where he played several years alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar
"It’s going to take time for him to be at his best because it’s a new team with a new philosophy," Sagna told Mega Dice
"Mbappe has gone into a new environment
a team that has just won the Champions League
He’s surrounded by big players that have already won a lot
He’s not the leader of this Madrid team like he was in Paris
Mabppe has been the best player in every team that he played in
Now he's surrounded with big profiles and big egos
That can be hard to deal with – it’s all new for Kylian."
Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has said that Arsenal should sign ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba
has been waiting to get his career kickstarted again as he had an 18-month ban for doping offences meaning that he’ll be eligible to play again in March 2025
He remains at Juventus but is looking to move elsewhere in January which is when he’ll be allowed to begin training again and could come to the Emirates Stadium
Bacary Sagna believes that Arsenal should target Pogba to reinforce their midfield as they aim to topple rivals Manchester City to the Premier League title this season
He told Paddy Power: “The Premier League suits Paul Pogba – I would love to see him join Arsenal
It would be great – he has experience; he loves to play with young players around him – that is when he is most efficient
that was when he was most efficient – he had friends around him
he can start from scratch again – he’s had time away from football
and he’ll be back with a desire to get back into a good space and play football again.”
The former Manchester United star confirmed in an interview with Gazetta Dello Sport that he turned down Pep Guardiola and a move to Manchester City when he was last a free agent in 2022
he was leaving after his second spell with United and didn’t want to move straight to their local rivals
now that Pogba is likely to be a free agent again
it raises the question of whether Pep Guardiola would go back in for the Frenchman which brings more intensity to Sagna’s recommendation
Manchester City and Arsenal are both battling for the Premier League title
if they were both seen to battle for Pogba’s signature
The 31-year-old scored 39 goals and 48 appearances for the Red Devils and is revered to be one of the best midfielders in the world on his day
Pogba’s biggest issue has been his consistency over the years
especially during his time at United due to the number of managers that the club had cycled through
He could be worth a gamble by one of Arsenal or City in their pursuit of the Premier League title
Dylan Oakley joined the National World Network sites in summer 2024 after spending time writing for DerbyWorld
He has since become the main Arsenal reporter for GoonerNews and also reports for LondonWorld
Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna believes that Ruben Amorim would be willing to bring Paul Pogba back to the club
Pogba finally left United on a free transfer in 2022
The Frenchman has endured a torrid time since with injury
off the field problems and finally an original ban of four years for using an illegal substance
Fortunately for the 31 year old, his ban was substantially reduced and he will be able to train from January and play competitive football in March
Although, former Arsenal and French international Sagna has sensationally linked Pogba to a return to Old Trafford according to comments picked up by the Daily Star
Commenting on the potential of a third Pogba spell at United he claimed
“it’s a different situation today at Manchester United to when Paul was previously there
a coach that understands the situation.”
Sagna then stated that Amorim would appreciate having the 2018 World Cup winner in and around the squad by asserting
“he will probably be willing to have a player like Paul at his training sessions
so I’m sure the coach will be open to seeing him getting back home because he loves United.”
The former defender then claimed that Pogba still has real affection for the club where he spent nine seasons
The only problem was the situation when he came back.”
“That was a spell where things didn’t go as well as they should have done
but Paul wasn’t the only player that struggled at United during the time he was there.”
It is safe to say a third homecoming for the controversial Frenchman is most likely off the cards
Amorim has spoken of the need to increase the intensity in the team
Ineos have reportedly abandoned the policy of signing high earning players in their 30s
so on two accounts a potential return looks puzzling
inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best
Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson
Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden
The Gunners travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on match day four of the 2024/25 Premier League season
It’s set to be a well-contested fixture in North London, as Arsenal and Spurs prepare to battle for three points and bragging rights
While there will be some anxiety in the Arsenal camp due to Mikel Arteta’s squad issues, nothing will take away from the occasion of a North London derby
One former Arsenal player is excited for the upcoming clash between the Gunners and Spurs, as Bacary Sagna took to social media to fire his former club up
Sagna played against Tottenham more than any other side during his playing career
The Frenchman is fired up before the derby
as seen when he posted a series of memories from his involvement in the fixture on his Instagram story
Sagna posted a five-word rallying cry saying
followed by photos of himself in duels with Spurs players over the years
The former right-back then posted highlights of Arsenal’s 5-2 victory against their rivals back in 2012
The North London derby can be a joyous or heartbreaking battle
with Sagna experiencing more wins than defeats to the Lilywhites during his time in the Premier League
Many icons for both Spurs and Arsenal have made their names in the North London derby
whether it be Thierry Henry never losing one or Harry Kane leading the scoring charts
In a past interview with GOAL
Sagna reflected on what makes the fixture so special and how it felt to play against Spurs as a Gunner
it was always one of the best games of the year
it’s a different way to get ready for the game
“Any game you play should be at 100 per cent
but that game you want to play at 100% for yourself and for the fans because there is no better feeling than winning and seeing the fans going crazy at the end
I won more than I lost against Tottenham so I have good memories – and I scored a nice goal against them as well.”
The Arsenal squad today certainly know how to beat Spurs away from home
recording consecutive wins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by an aggregate score of 5-2
Bacary Sagna has predicted that Liverpool will be knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain despite winning the first-leg 1-0 of their last-16 tie
Sagna also believes Arsenal still have a chance of winning the Premier League despite Liverpool’s 13 points lead in the table
“I believe they [Arsenal] are doing a great job
Some people got disappointed because they were expecting the team to be a bit closer [to Liverpool] at this period of time,” Sagna told talkSPORT
It’s going to be difficult to catch Liverpool but when I look at the game they played against Paris Saint Germain
I’m thinking maybe they are going to have times where they don’t perform so well
“Maybe this is where Arsenal can maybe catch up and close the gap
The gap is big today but maybe it can be reduced
“I believe Paris have a good chance at going through to the Champions League stage so then the vibe will be down
“At the minute Liverpool is flying because of the results that they are having but you never know.”
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Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna claims that transfer target Mikel Merino has similar attributes to Barcelona’s Ilkay Gundogan
The Gunners are currently in talks to sign the Real Sociedad midfielder and, speaking to Paddy Power
Sagna said that Merino would be an excellent addition to the squad:
“Mikel Merino is another good footballer
and we saw how important he was during the Euros for Spain
He’s been linked with Arsenal for a while
and he’s got quality to add to the club
I’m not surprised Arsenal are in for him because Arteta will have been following him
He’s someone who can adapt to any club and he’s a bit like Ilkay Gundogan because he arrives in the box at the right moment and we saw him do that for Spain.”
“Arsenal need to double up in that position [centre midfield] and he’s one of them who would be a big addition to the squad
They need players like that and need competition in the squad
it would be very promising to start the season like these.”
In terms of goals and assists through their professional careers
the former Manchester City player is superior
having averaged 0.35 goal involvements every 90 minutes
Even so, there is no doubt that Merino can score and create goals from midfield; something that Arteta clearly wants to add to the squad
It is believed that the Gunners are prepared to pay as much as €35m (£30m) for Merino
despite the fact that the 28-year-old has less than a year left on his contract
to raise the funds necessary to get the deal over the line
the London club will need to sell someone first
Eddie Nketiah would be the likeliest candidate but finding a potential suitor has proven difficult
with moves to Marseille and Bournemouth having fallen through
Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has tipped Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly to get an England call-up in Thomas Tuchel’s first squad
Former Chelsea boss Tuchel took over as England manager succeeding Gareth Southgate
and he is due to select his first England squad for an international break at the end of March
Myles Lewis-Skelly was a standout figure during Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Manchester City over the weekend
and Sagna believes that he is already good enough to get an England call-up despite the fact that he’s just 18 years old
Sagna, who played for Arsenal between 2007 and 2014, told GoonerNews via greatoffshoresportsbooks.com: “I get a lot of excitement watching him play
especially as I don’t know him really well
“When someone plays for the first time you wonder if he will play in a way that suits the team
but he’s proven that he does suit this Arsenal team
I think he’s going to be part of Thomas Tuchel’s national team when he picks his first squad
I think he is going to have a really long and successful career.”
After Arsenal’s win against Manchester City on Sunday
Sky Sports commentator and pundit Gary Neville claimed that Lewis-Skelly is the best left back he’s seen since former Arsenal and Chelsea defender Ashley Cole – but Sagna believes that it is unfair to make such a comparison
I think it’s too early to compare Myles Lewis-Skelly to any player
Myles has a lot of talent; I think he has a lot of confidence
“Doing what he’s doing at 18 is beyond amazing
but I think we need to let him grow and keep playing
because he has only been playing first team football for a few months
“Let’s give him the time to develop into his own player
Let’s let him find his own path and be the player he wants to be rather than comparing him to players from the past.”
interim manager Lee Carsley selected just two players that could be considered left-backs
Carsley picked Newcastle pair Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento
who will both likely be considered by Tuchel for a spot in his England team
Chelsea full-back Ben Chilwell joined Crystal Palace on loan during the January window, and so he could get more regular game time, leading to an England call-up. His teammate at Selhurst Park Tyrick Mitchell will also command Tuchel’s attention after an impressive season so far for the Eagles.
The likes of Kieran Trippier and Joe Gomez have struggled to get regular game time at Newcastle and Liverpool. Other than that, Luke Shaw is currently injured so won’t be selected.
Seeing as Lewis-Skelly doesn’t have a vast amount of competition for an England squad place, Sagna’s claim could be about right considering the form of the 18-year-old.
but they have Manchester City breathing down their necks
meaning Pep Guardiola's side will claim the league title if they win their remaining matches
It's a tough position for the Gunners to be in
as they seek their first league crown in 20 years knowing that their fate is out of their hands
Arsenal have topped the standings for most of the season
but a few poor results have led to their current predicament
Former Gunner Bacary Sagna believes it was the two matches against a particular opponent that may have lost his old team the title. Speaking to Paddy Power
Sagna points to an early season 2-2 draw with Fulham at the Emirates and the 2-1 loss on New Year's Eve at Craven Cottage that did the most damage to Arsenal's title hopes in an otherwise stellar campaign
“It’s difficult to explain what Arsenal need to do to win the league – they have the quality in every single position," Sagna said
"They've been consistent and they’re having a great season
“The only thing they might regret is losing to Fulham away and drawing at home
that was a turning point – they dropped important points in those two games
but they ended up losing and drawing games they should’ve won
“They are still in contention; they’ve managed to be up there
they were standing in the same position as Manchester United are in today
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Bacary Sagna spent seven seasons on the books at Arsenal
He made almost 300 appearances for the North London club
having turned down a new contract with the Gunners
the Frenchman signed for Manchester City as a free agent
and went on to spend three seasons in the North West
adding a League Cup winners’ medal to his collection
The 41-year-old was admired for his defensive solidity and consistency in his time at the Emirates Stadium
and can perhaps consider himself somewhat unfortunate to have been one of Arsenal’s standout players during an era when the club were not able to seriously challenge for major honours
Sagna clearly has great respect for the club
and many of the iconic figures who have worn the famous red and white
including himself in his Premier League dream XI
Speaking to the Daily Mail
the 65-cap former France international was asked to pick a team made up of the best ever Premier League players
Between the sticks he went for Edwin van der Sar
Joining himself in the back four were Patrice Evra
There is a far greater Arsenal influence in the rest of his team
Patrick Vieira features in a midfield trio alongside Eden Hazard and Claude Makelele
It’s an all Arsenal show at the top end of the pitch, with Mesut Ozil and backing up a strike duo of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp
For all of his quality, though, it is perhaps a surprise to see Ozil named in the team rather than Cesc Fabregas. Sagna played with both, and they were both world-class playmakers. However, Ozil’s reputation was somewhat damaged given the manner in which his Arsenal career came to an end
The Frenchman is the Gunners’ all-time leading goalscorer
and arguably the best striker to have ever graced the Premier League
Henry recently proved that class is permanent too as he impressed Arsenal fans with his skills on the training pitch
as he prepares to lead France at the Paris Olympics
The Gunners ended the season in fantastic form with Arsenal dropping points in just two Premier League matches as the north London side came within a whisker of beating Manchester City to the title
Arsenal will soon go into overdrive in making the signings needed to go that extra mile next season and to overtake City at last for the biggest prize in English football
Yet Sagna has questioned why one Arsenal player is now being criticised
Sagna said when asked about recent criticism towards Zinchenko: “I love Zinchenko
I’m trying to understand why people say he didn’t have a great season
READ MORE: Arsenal 24/25 confirmed signings, transfers in and out, loan exits and releases
“It is because he made one mistake against Liverpool where he was caught out of possession and Arsenal were punished
Arteta puts so many demands on him as a footballer; he performs several roles in the team from his left-back position
“When Arsenal lose the ball and he moves into the midfield
but this is a product of the bravery Arteta demands from his players and the football he wants to play.”
There’s no denying that Zinchenko is a sensational player
with the Ukraine international one of the best in Arsenal’s squad when it comes to a technical level and progressing the ball
Yet criticism aimed at Zinchenko has been warranted at some points this season
with the defender at fault for Arsenal’s 2-0 loss against Aston Villa as well as the draw against Liverpool at Anfield
With rumours of a move to Bayern Munich, it could be a smart idea for Zinchenko to move on this summer, especially if Arsenal can recoup a good fee for the former City star.
The former Gunners defender feels the club should invest in more depth down the middle of the park
particularly in defence where they were fortunate to see their starters go relatively unscathed last season
Sagna explained why he feels it's important for Arsenal to focus on shoring up that part of the squad
“Arsenal should sign another centre-back," Sagna said
"William Saliba and Gabriel stayed injury-free this season
but they had many games and would want to rest them at some point
"You need to cover the positions as a team – they should sign one centre-back
“The centre-back position needs to have some depth
and Arsenal need to be able to bring someone on without changing the shape of the team
"They need someone solid that can take responsibility
has experience of this pressure and can keep up with the high level of the team.”
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Authorities in Senegal must immediately release Guy Marius Sagna
a prominent activist who is entering his fourth month in detention for peacefully protesting high electricity prices
the coordinator of the Front for a Popular Anti-Imperialist Revolution and Pan African (FRAAP)
has spent three months in a high security prison in Dakar
Since then 1,233 letters and petitions have been sent from around Senegal calling for his release
Guy Marius Sagna has spent 90 days behind bars in a high security prison
He is being treated like a dangerous criminal simply for exercising his freedom of peaceful assembly
He is being treated like a dangerous criminal simply for exercising his freedom of peaceful assembly,” said Seydi Gassama
“More than a thousand people have sent letters calling for his release
If President Macky Sall and his government want to prove that they are committed to respecting and protecting human rights
they should release Guy Marius Sagna immediately and without conditions.”
On 29 November 2019 Sagna took part in a peaceful protest in Dakar’s city center
He was arrested in front of the gates of the Presidential palace with eight other activists
The eight were charged with ‘’participation in an unauthorized gathering’’ but were released on bail between 4 December 2019 and 21 January 2020
Sagna was charged with ‘’inciting an unauthorized gathering and rebellion’’ and the authorities have three times rejected his lawyer’s requests for bail
Amnesty International was able to visit him in prison and so did his family members
but there are restrictions for many of his friends
In a letter published on 29 January on social media
Sagna said: “I am in prison in a high security unit reserved for terrorists… In two months
Amnesty International calls on authorities to ensure that
“Authorities should immediately drop the charges against all nine activists and stop prosecuting individuals simply for exercising their right to peaceful assembly,” said Seydi Gassama
“They must also repeal the 2011 Decree banning all peaceful demonstrations in a large area of the city center of Dakar”
the national company of electricity announced an increase in the price of electricity for customers
Civil society and pro-democracy movements made of five organisations
“Les Forces Démocratiques du Sénégal” ,“les Gilets Rouges”
“Nittu Dëgg” and the Front for a Popular Anti-Imperialist Revolution and Pan-African (FRAAP)
decided to protest the decision through a rally from the “Place of the Nation” to the main entrance of the presidential palace in Dakar to hand a letter to President Macky Sall
the Prefect of Dakar requested from the organizers to change the itinerary
suggesting a new one which they have refused
the Minister of Interior took an order imposing blanket bans on demonstrations in parts of the city centre of Dakar
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Guy Marius Sagna recently addressed the accusations that he had made anti-French remarks during his appearance on the RTS program “Point de Vue” aired on Sunday
During the program, the leader of France Dégage movement responded to the controversy generated by his previous statements.→ ALSO READ : Assembly: Members vote the Reactivation of Internal Rules
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In his playing career, the Frenchman racked up 267 combined top-flight appearances for Manchester City and Arsenal
Having played with and against a wide range of other big-name full-backs throughout his time as a Premier League player
the 41-year-old certainly has the knowledge and experience to recognise a top defender when he sees one
In fact, Sagna has now made a claim regarding two of the most popular full-backs the Premier League has seen, one of which is currently a part of Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad Stadium
Appearing in a recent video shared on the Daily Mail Sport TikTok channel
Sagna was doing a winner-stays-on challenge involving numerous past and present full-backs
When asked to pick between Patrice Evra and Kyle Walker
Sagna chose the former Manchester United left-back over the current City captain
During his eight-and-a-half-year spell at Old Trafford between January 2006 and July 2014
Evra made 379 appearances across all competitions
delivering 33 assists and winning five Premier League titles
In comparison, with seven years under his belt at City, Walker has won six Premier League trophies in 301 appearances across all competitions
bagging six goals and providing 23 assists along the way
Having captained the Blues to a historic fourth consecutive Premier League title last season
there’s no doubt that the Englishman is one of the most significant full-backs the top flight has seen
In fact, former United player Ashley Young said back in May that the 34-year-old is one of the best full-backs in Premier League history
While Evra also had a successful period in England
we feel that not many City supporters would agree with Sagna’s pick
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Some interesting comments from Bacary Sagna on Newcastle United and the Premier League
The former France international who played for Arsenal and Manchester City
talking about how he sees this season playing out
Bacary Sagna speaking ahead of the return to action after the November international break
Still 27 rounds of Premier League matches to go
the table already looking very interesting
Liverpool the only side showing any real consistency so far but they have also carried significant luck in a number of games
leading to wins instead of draws and so on
The scousers have 28 points after 11 matches
Bacary Sagna thinks that it will be most likely his two old clubs Man City and Arsenal
fighting it out for the title with Liverpool
Then when it comes to which other club will finish top four this season
the former France international believing Newcastle United can do it
Bacary Sagna talking to Mega Dice about which club he thinks can complete the Premier League top four this season (along with Man City
“I think Newcastle are the team that will secure the final Champions League place
“They have a great project at Newcastle
“They play without any pressure because I don’t think anyone tipped them to finish in the top four this season
“They have a great investor, but he’s composed. They’re not just buying players; they want to build a team, and they’ve managed to slowly improve their squad and are capable of beating any of the bigger teams in the Premier League
“I don’t see Fulham or Brighton keeping up with the pace because at some point
when you’re not used to competing for a place in the top four
players might think it’s enough for them to be in the top six or eight
“Newcastle are hopeful of playing in the Champions League
and the club is used to playing for those objectives
“Newcastle is the most serious contender for the Champions League.”
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Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has called on his old club to sign Swedish forward Viktor Gyokeres
The Frenchman described Gyokeres as a pure striker
Speaking recently to Metro on behalf of Paddy Power
Sagna said: “I’d like to see Arsenal go for Viktor Gyokeres—he’s amazing
He’s a pure striker who would offer some depth to Arsenal
“He’s also quite tall so whenever the team are out wide
they can cross the ball a bit more and that’s been missing a bit for me.”
Gyokeres is currently playing for Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon
The 26-year-old has scored 13 goals in 13 games across all competitions this season
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he uses technology to address the problems facing vulnerable populations in Africa
He has developed several innovative solutions and has received numerous awards
Djibril Sagna (photo) is a Senegalese computer scientist and entrepreneur
a startup founded in 2018 that offers innovative technological solutions in various fields such as healthcare
Impact Solution has developed several groundbreaking solutions
an electronic medical records platform designed to improve healthcare access and patient outcomes
The said platform aims to enhance care coordination
and strengthen the capacities of healthcare personnel while eliminating the inefficiencies associated with manual paper record management
a platform that modernizes urban transportation by allowing users to plan and pay for their public transport journeys
the company won the Innovation Award from the Executive Council for Sustainable Urban Transport in Senegal
Impact Solution established the Impact Digital Center
an information and support hub for students and digital project initiators
The center offers innovative and intensive programs
where a team of experts collaborates with beneficiaries to identify and solve their problems
Djibril Sagna has been the IT manager for the Network for Health
and Population (RESSIP) of the European NGO platform in Senegal (CONGAD) since 2016
where he manages the health NGOs' database
He is also a web developer for Senegalese NGO Connexion Sans Frontière
Djibril Sagna graduated from the Faculty of Legal and Political Sciences at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar with a master's degree in law in 2015
He also holds an engineering degree in software engineering obtained in 2017 from IAM Tech
the technology school of the African Institute of Management (IAM)
an international company specializing in ICT development in Africa
at the Africa Entrepreneur Summit in Paris
He also won the Health Disrupt Senegal Contest Award presented by Free Senegal
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TSF gets back to the arduous chore of rating every single Arsenal player's 2012-13 performance
the TSF crew shares its opinions about Bacary Sagna
One thing you'll note as we go through this process is the relative similarity of grades of a lot of players we then go through and evaluate slightly more harshly with words than we did with letters
We decided to do a pretty strict A-F grading scale
so given that it's tricky to accurately letter-grade a player; personally
the grade is an afterthought and the overall evaluation is what I try to focus on
PAUL:This is what I wrote about Bacary Sagna after last season:
so maybe if he stays healthy all next year he'll develop the consistency he needs to take that next step forward and become the truly dominant defender he by rights ought to be
and he has moments of brilliance - like the Sunderland game where he stepped in for the red-carded Carl Jenkinson and played like a beast - but all too often this season he was relatively anonymous
While I recognize that coming back from two broken legs (!) is a long
I am still awaiting that step forward I wanted him to take last season
so he can become the all-conquering player I know he's capable of being - and at 30
but I want him to be better on a more consistent basis next season
TED:Bacary Sagna isn't quite the Bacary Sagna we had from 07-10 anymore
A succession of broken legs and age creeping in has slowed his pace a bit
I'm not sure he's done as an Arsenal player or anything like that
but there were times this year where I kind of just wanted to throw my shoe at him
like filling it at emergency center back against Sunderland and basically heading every clearance away
Sagna's peak time at fullback might be drawing to an end
I think he can still be a useful piece for Arsenal going forward
but Carl Jenkinson's improvement may start to push him out a little more next year
AIDAN:Bacary Sagna had his worst season for Arsenal
and it was still better than most right backs
there were a number of glaring errors in Sagna's game
errors that pointed towards a lack of focus (that whole one-year left on contract thingy)
That Sagna's best game came at centre back is indicative of that: there
he was able to show the traits that still make him a very good defender
He still had some very good games at right back
because one feels Carl Jenkinson could only grow under his tutelage
rather than being thrust into the limelight
More discipline from Theo Walcott would help too; often
but his passing remains a plus from right back
TRAVIS:The realization that one of your favorite player's career is starting its descent into the fading sky
the warmth of the daylight sun struggling to maintain its previous dominance as it falls away into darkness
Physically it's the same person but their movements
action and end-result is duller; no longer is the player as crisp and sharp as before
While his marking hasn't decreased with vigor
far too often he was misplacing short passes while failing to anticipate his teammates' runs deep in the opposition's half
While he showed at times that he's still able to support Theo Walcott in attack
his best traits are still closing down opponents in space
Arsene Wenger's policy with players over thirty years old has subsided a touch over the last ten seasons but with his contract situation coupled with a promising Carl Jenkinson showing rapid improvement over his short time at the club
and the drop-off from his previous consistent awesomeness worried basically everyone
He made errors he hasn't been prone to making in the past - in particular
in passing a ball directly to him then fouling him in the box for a game-tying penalty
But although he is getting older (he turned 30 in February) and his form dropped this year
and a player worth sticking with if at all possible
and another year removed from a double leg break (which
all things being equal) will help him recover his previously stellar form
GRADE:
via i41.tinypic.com
The ex-Gunner was one of the Premier League's best right-backs during his time in north London but left in 2014 after growing disillusioned
Bacary Sagna has opened up about leaving his ‘beloved’ Arsenal in 2014
admitting that he lost his head at the club’s reluctance to open contract talks
Sagna quickly established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League with his consistent performances on the right side of Arsenal’s back four
He was named in the Premier League team of the year in 2008 and 2011 and went on to make 284 appearances for the Gunners during his seven-year stay with the club
But he left on a free transfer in the summer of 2014
and went on to make a move to Manchester City
where he spent the next three seasons before leaving in 2017
The ex-France international has now revealed why the circumstances around Emirates Stadium at the time left him with no option other than to leave
Sagna - who is a free agent and living with his family in Canada - admits Arsenal’s decisions to sell Robin van Persie to Manchester United and Alex Song to Barcelona played a part in bringing about his exit
but the main reason was how late the club left it before trying to enter into talks about a new contract
not when [Cesc] Fabregas left - because that was quite an obvious move - not when [Samir] Nasri left
He left in a way that no-one understood because he was flying,” the 37-year-old told Goal in an exclusive interview
I wondered why Arsenal didn’t try more to keep him
just do it because you have to spend money to get another player
it’s going to take time for that player to adapt
“I didn’t understand that and Alex Song’s move
The two of them left at the same time and I found out reading the French press
Sagna added: “Not long afterwards I had an interview with L’Equipe and they asked me what my future was and at that time
I hadn’t held any talks about my future and I only had one year left before the end of my contract
if they wanted me to stay I would have stayed
But I didn’t feel like they did everything to make me stay
I was not expecting them to run around after me
but I at least expected them to show me some love and make me feel like they wanted me to stay one year before the end of the same contract I had kept for six years without asking for one penny more
“But they only talked to me after I did that interview with L’Equipe
It did not feel like a natural move and I didn’t feel comfortable at all
This hurt me as a player and as a person because I always gave my best
I never asked for anything from 2008 to 2014
“I didn’t knock at the club’s door to change contract
there were many suggestions that his move was purely about getting one last big payday
He was 31 at the time; the latest in a long line of players to move from Arsenal to big-spending Manchester City
But Sagna is adamant money had nothing to do with his decision
“It was not about money like people think or any way of leaving to win trophies
I remember the fans singing ‘we want you to stay’
but I couldn’t stay because I was upset and I couldn’t play with my head
saying ‘look you need to clear this up’ but I said I was too upset
I remember my dad and my brother came to a game and they didn’t recognise me
But during that period I think I did more positive things than negative things and I never asked for anything
“So I expected a bit more respect and so I made up my mind
When they came and said how can we help you
Sagna is now living in Canada having spent the past two seasons playing in MLS with Montreal Impact
but has not ruled out playing again once football’s temporary suspension caused by the coronavirus pandemic is lifted
He could have returned to Europe in January
but he opted to remain in Montreal because he is currently applying for citizenship in Canada and any move would have seen he and his family lose their Canadian status
It’s been nearly six years since the last of his 284 appearances for Arsenal - which came in the 2014 FA Cup Final
when the Gunners finally ended their nine-year wait for silverware
After some near misses in terms of the title during Sagna’s spell at the club
and a painful defeat to Birmingham City in the League Cup final in 2011
Arsene Wenger’s side went into the game against Hull City as overwhelming favourites
But they found themselves facing more heartache when they fell 2-0 down inside 10 minutes at Wembley before mounting a thrilling comeback to win 3-2 thanks to Aaron Ramsey’s now iconic extra-time winner
it was an afternoon packed full of emotion
one that was perfectly encapsulated by a picture taken seconds after the full-time whistle where he is kneeling on the turf praying
while Arsene Wenger kisses him on the forehead
“I knew I was going to leave and I wanted to win it so much
maybe it can have the opposite impact and we started really badly
“On the pitch I had tears coming because I didn’t want to leave that way
I was desperate to win that game and so when we came back and managed to win
yes I was praying at the end because I was very grateful for winning in that shirt
I used to watch Arsenal and it was something special to play for Arsenal
“So I was really grateful and I’m sill grateful to the club
because he was the one who brought me to the club and I had an amazing relationship with him.”
That FA Cup was the only trophy Sagna lifted during his time in north London
but it had looked for some time like he might mark his first season in England with the Premier League title having made the move from Auxerre in the summer of 2007
Wenger’s exciting young side were five points clear at the top of the table during the 2007-08 season and had the chance to extend that advantage to eight points when they travelled to Birmingham City on February 23
But the horrific leg break suffered by Eduardo in the opening minutes of that clash at St Andrew's
combined with James McFadden rescuing a point for the home side with an injury-time penalty
was the catalyst for an end-of-season collapse
Arsenal drew their next three games in the league before losing at Chelsea and Manchester United
A season that promised so much ended in disappointment and Sagna admits that game at Birmingham played a big part in the sudden loss of form
“It was a massive blow to our team,” said the defender
we had some form and we were not scared of anyone
They were pushing and the atmosphere was great
“We were doing very good and Eduardo was flying
He was our main scorer and the fact that he got injured I think it put some insecurity in our team
it maybe made us think about what might happen next
“It was quite the shock to be on the pitch that day
I don’t want to use it as an excuse because after this we didn’t manage to win for so many games
It put insecurity into the team and we were not able to come back.”
The draw at St Andrew's also brought then-Gunners captain William Gallas' now infamous tantrum following the award of Birmingham’s late penalty
The centre-back stormed to the halfway line in disgust before kicking an advertising hoarding and
he sat alone on the pitch rather than join his team-mates back in the changing room
Many felt Gallas’ outburst was another contributing factor in Arsenal’s capitulation
but Sagna does not believe that assessment is a fair one
“I think it’s easy to say that he had the wrong attitude
but he was our captain and that time he tried his best,” said the right-back
showing in front of everyone that he wasn’t happy was not the best action
it was more that no-one could really understand why [he did it]
“It’s the kind of thing that happened that shouldn’t be happening
But he was not the reason why we went down and I think everyone was a bit harsh on him
but we were still on the path to achieving a great season and we all could have done better
Montreal Impact fans got an early Christmas present Monday when the club announced the re-signing of veteran French right back Bacary Sagna to a one-year deal
“I am very satisfied that Bacary carries on with the club,” Impact head coach Remi Garde said in a statement
“He played a big role in our good second half to the season in 2018 and I am sure he will once again be an important part of the Impact in 2019.”
The 35-year-old former Arsenal standout arrived in Montreal in August and started all nine games he appeared in, chipping in with one goal, which came against the New York Red Bulls
“I’m very happy to be back with the Impact for one more year,” Sagna said
“I hope we have a good season and make it all the way.”
who spent 10 years in the English Premier League with Arsenal and Manchester City
also has 65 caps for the French national team
playing in a pair of World Cups and every minute of Les Bleus matches in Euro 2016
has urged ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba to join the Gunners
Pogba is desperate to get his career back on track after his four-year ban for doping offences was recently reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport
The 31-year-old will be free to resume training from January 2025
The France World Cup winner is eligible to play again in March
Pogba is likely to continue his career away from Juventus
despite his current deal set to expire in June 2026
“The Premier League suits Paul Pogba – I would love to see him join Arsenal,” Sagna told Paddy Power
“It would be great – he has experience; he loves to play with young players around him – that is when he is most efficient
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Manchester City and Arsenal were eliminated from continental play last week
Villa are competing in the UEFA Europa Conference League
meaning no English teams remain in the Champions League or Europa League
It's a stark reminder of the competitiveness of those tournaments
and a longtime former Premier League player is not surprised that clubs from across the continent are faring so well
former Arsenal and Chelsea defender Bacary Sagna explained why the gap between the Premier League and the rest of Europe is closing — even though he still feels the English top flight is the best
“The gap between the Premier League and other European leagues is getting tighter and tighter – you have quality teams all over Europe," Sagna said
"Germany have been doing well this season
and when you look at a team like Bayer Leverkusen
and teams are composed of more people now – analysts
and the level is getting higher and higher
It’s not surprising to see better teams and talent year after year
“The Premier League is still the strongest for me
but the gap is closing with other leagues.”
Live on DAZN PPV: Canelo vs. Munguia on May 4. Click here for details.
has urged Arsenal to sign Italian star Riccardo Calafiori
and has reportedly already submitted a transfer request
Calafiori can play as a left-back and a centre-back and has attracted the attention of top European clubs following his performances for Bologna last season
The Italy International helped Bologna secure a UEFA Champions League place for the 2024-25 season
At the just concluded European championship
Calafiori provided the assist in Italy’s 1-1 comeback draw against Croatia
He missed the round of 16 defeat to Switzerland due to suspension
Sagna believes the defender would be a good addition to Mikel Arteta’s Gunners
urging his ex-club to sign him this summer
“Riccardo Calafiori is very good – I’ve followed him a lot in Serie A this season
“I’ve seen a lot of Bologna games
and he’s one of the reasons they were able to qualify for the Champions League
“He’s calm and composed on the ball- he can break lines by committing and help the side out offensively
“He’d be a fantastic player for Arsenal
he’d be a fantastic addition.”
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The former France right-back scored his first Premier League goal and was injured in a game just weeks after his sibling's tragic passing
Former Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna has opened up on his struggles with mental health after suffering a serious injury just weeks after the death of his brother
died a day before his 28th birthday in February 2008
After being advised by his father to go back to England and keep playing
Sagna scored his first Premier League goal in an important game against Chelsea but suffered a serious ankle ligament injury later in the match
The defender says his Gunners team-mates helped him cope
but that he didn’t truly open up about his pain
“It’s hard to describe but nothing felt right,” Sagna told Arsenal’s official website. “In my head I knew exactly what I could bring to the team but my body couldn’t do it. Some days I would feel like a robot. I used to drive there and not even remember the way I went.
“I never spoke to anyone about it. People who know me know that I’m naturally quiet. It’s not in my nature to show off. I would turn up, train, give me best and then if I have to step forward, I will, but I’m naturally quiet and I would never ask for help.
“My team-mates obviously knew something was wrong because they were living with me. They were so good with me, they made me laugh so much and they were good.
“I actually remember Gael Clichy taking me to a show called Africa Africa in London, at the O2. I knew Gael from the national team and he was really close to me. He really helped me. All the guys, they made me laugh and made me realise that I'm still blessed, no matter what happened.
“It's a blessing and I had to go forward. Everyone was good at the club, even the coach, everyone talked to me in a way to help me.”
Sagna says speaking to a psychologist at the club was the biggest step in working through his grief.
“Like I said, I never asked anyone for help,” he said. “That’s why I have Neil, one of the psychologists, to thank.
“It was a night before a game, I remember it so well. ‘Bac, can I talk to you?’ he said.‘Yes, of course.’ ‘Well, I’ve noticed that you’re here but you’re not here.’ ‘What do you mean?’ ‘I’ve been watching you for a while and you’re here but your mind is somewhere else. What’s on your mind?’
“So we talked. I opened up to him, and it helped.
“I felt like I’d let go and that it was time for me to step up. It was time for me to just enjoy the fact I was wearing the shirt. It wasn’t down to anyone else, it was up to me to put my head down and work hard. Little by little, I came back to my best.
“I got my confidence back, I was more decisive and I was playing better football. I thought differently.
“Football used to be everything but then once the 90 minutes are over, there are other things. Those other things are important to talk about, too.”
The Ukrainian winger arrived last season with plenty of expectation but struggled to meet those targets as he failed in front of goal
there have been green shoots so far this season
and many supporters still think he can be an important player for the club
He had also been linked with Arsenal before he joined the Blues
and former Gunner Sagna thinks that in time there will be a player worth sticking with
He told Lord Ping: “I expect Mudryk to fulfil the promise he has at Chelsea and develop into a world-class player. For me, he is already a top, top player.
“He joined the club when there were a lot of problems. There was a lot of negative energy at Chelsea and the players were suffering from a lack of confidence.
“It’s not easy for a young player to come to a new club in a new country and perform straight away. It is even more difficult to do that when you join a club for a huge amount of money. People expect players that cost £100 million to win games on their own, but football doesn’t work like that.
“He joined a team that had no confidence. It would be unrealistic for people to think that he would be Chelsea’s saviour. Football is a vibe, and you need all of your players to be in a good place to get the best out of them.
“I think Mudryk’s performances are getting better. He is starting to adapt to the league and is improving with every game. He needs time to develop but he has shown some encouraging signs this season.”
but is the best central defender in the Premier League
Saliba joined Arsenal in 2019 but then spent three years on loan
The 22-year-old is now a full French international and a first-team regular at the Emirates
and Arsenal are on course to once again challenge for the Premier League after their attempt last season
Speaking to Genting Casino
Sagna discussed just how influential the player is for Arsenal
He said: “I think he is Arsenal’s most important player
Arsenal started to lose points because he is the pillar of the defence
I think Arsenal could have been champions if Saliba stayed fit
“There aren’t many players that can keep Erling Haaland
He is humble; he never shows off on the pitch after he does something well
He does things on the pitch naturally and performs his job perfectly
“I think Saliba is the best centre back in the league
he will continue to get better and better.”
The former Gunner's words have left his old team-mate feeling disappointed with the man who was charged with captaining the squad
Bacary Sagna has hit back at Cesc Fabregas after his comments about Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri being the only two players on his level during his latter years at Arsenal
During an appearance on the Arsecast podcast
Fabregas spoke at length about his time in north London and his reasons for leaving for Barcelona in 2011
The Spaniard questioned the mentality of some of his former team-mates and admitted he felt that only Van Persie and Nasri were on the same wavelength as him
both in terms of their technique and their mentality
I always felt so much pressure on myself,” said Fabregas
who is now playing his football with Monaco
I used to go home after we lost and I used to cry
I used to spend sleepless nights suffering
thinking about where they will be going out later
we were playing beautiful football and I enjoyed that side of things
"But I was putting pressure on myself to lead
"Especially in the last two or three years
I felt Robin and Samir were the only players who were at my level mentally and technically
But those comments have not gone down well with Sagna
Arsenal’s former right-back who was a team-mate of Fabregas from 2007 until 2011
when the midfielder forced through his move to Barcelona
the France international - who was named in the Premier League team of the year in 2008 and 2011 - admitted he had been left surprised by Fabregas’ views
And Sagna believes his former captain should have focused on some of his own limitations before questioning others
“I was surprised to read this,” said the 37-year-old
“From him I was surprised because he was supposed to be one of the leaders of the team
he was one of the great prospects and as a leader and a true player
“So I was surprised because he is a nice guy
“Arsenal made him so saying that some players were not at his level was a bit harsh because I’m not sure out of all the seasons he was playing at the club
“At that time the press was talking about him not running enough or tracking back
So other players could have said ‘you should be running more or doing more’
because we didn’t have the right spirit at that time we didn’t make this little extra push
or make that little extra run to track players
but this is not a reason to speak in that way about other players
It’s his opinion and he’s right to have an opinion
but we all have good moments and bad moments in our career and I’m not sure he always had great moments with Arsenal
but maybe some people were expecting more from him.”
What promises to be a busy offseason for the Montreal Impact started with the announcement veteran defenders Rod Fanni and Bacary Sagna are among a group of players who will not have their contract option for 2019 not exercised
The Impact failed to make the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs in Remi Garde’s first season as head coach. After the season, which saw Montreal finish seventh, four points below the playoff line in the East, the club announced the mutual parting of ways with technical director Adam Braz
SPOILER ALERT: It's more a valedictory than a grade
People everywhere always undervalue defenders
and that just throwing a few warm bodies behind the ball is good enough
as long as you have a cadre of attackers that do FIFA tricks in their sleep
I started watching Arsenal in the days of the Adams/Bould/Keown/Winterburn back line
and watching them every week really gave me an appreciation for what defeders are supposed to do and how they should do it
That line was well-drilled; they all knew where to be and when to be there
Bacary Sagna is a modern defender who is a total throwback; he doesn't try to bomb up the wings much
All he really wants to do is shut down an attack and start an Arsenal move
He does this better than almost any Arsenal defender in the last 10 years; he was instrumental in Arsenal's strong start this season
and despite a few games where he was kind of invisible
he had a pretty amazing year again this year
and his bad games were games where everyone else played badly as well
so it's not like a Sagna mistake has ever cost Arsenal a game by itself
That's a pretty ideal quality for a defender
but I under$tand why he's £eaving; unlike other Arsenal leavers lately
and with mine and TSF's best wishes for a great rest of his career
Except when he goes up against Arsenal
fans and pundits alike search for reasons as to why the Red Devils are struggling on all fronts
Their most recent loss was a demoralising 4-3 defeat to FC Copenhagen earlier this week in the Champions League
in which the Danish side scored twice in the final 10 minutes to secure the victory
That result dropped United to dead last in Group A with just two matches remaining
and it followed a run of games in which the Red Devils lost back-to-back 3-0 games before grabbing a 1-0 victory over Fulham in stoppage time
more observers are looking at Bruno Fernandes' role as captain as part of the problem at Old Trafford
Fernandes has found an unlikely ally amid the scrutiny
as former Manchester City and Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has thrown his support behind the Portugal international
Speaking to Paddy Power, Sagna said that Fernandes gets flack due to his on-field demeanour, which may not be a fair assessment of his leadership skills.
“The one person who decides who the captain should be is the manager, and Erik ten Hag sees Bruno Fernandes on a regular basis, and he knows him better than anyone," Sagna said.
"He’s the best person to assess the ability of someone to be captain.
“He chose Bruno Fernandes as captain because he saw leadership qualities and he’s a winner.
"He might have the wrong body language and gets upset sometimes but that’s because he’s looking for perfection.
"Can we criticise a player for not being happy if another player isn’t performing?"
While some may not like Fernandes' method of communication on the pitch, Sagna feels the way the United captain vocalises during matches is appropriate.
“Fernandes is trying to push everyone on, and no one likes bad body language, but I try to look at it from another point of view.
"It’s important to have a captain who is vocal and talks a lot when things aren’t going well – that's why they are captains."