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Sagna signs; Read the Auxerre fans’ view

938 comments July 12th, 2007

C’est fait.  After completing negotiations with Auxerre late last night, Bacary Sagna has been registered as an Arsenal player, and will wear the number three. In order to find out a bit more about our new right-back, I asked the good folk of Aja-Net.com, an Auxerre forum, for their opinions.  A few of the most useful(/least difficult to translate) are listed below:

• “Bak” (his nickname) is a very good player, who plays on the right (he played a few times on the left, but he’s better on the right). He is strong, a very good defender, and also can sometimes give good crosses.
• He is a great “espoir” in France, probably the future Sagnol in the French team.
  I think he’s better than Chimbonda, but he is quite young, so maybe next year, he’ll be far better.
• I think Eboue is better offensively, but Sagna is definitely better defensively. 
• Maybe Eboue will be Wenger’s first choice, but Arsenal has a lot of matches to play, with the Premier League, the Champions League, the Cup, and the League Cup.  With 60 matches or more, Sagna will have to play several.
• He knows that in less than one year, there will be the European Championships.   He was recently called in French Team, and he is taking a risk by moving to England now.
• But he is really strong, and if he adapts to English football style, he may become Wenger’s first choice in November or December.

The general feeling is that Sagna was without doubt their best player, much more accomplished than Tottenham new-boy Kaboul, and that he now has a chance to become France’s regular right-back.

Arsene is pleased to have finally got his man, saying:

“We are delighted to have signed Bacary Sagna. He is a very capable defender and has played consistently well for Auxerre in recent seasons. He plays mainly at right back, but can also play along the defence or in midfield. He is strong, quick and enjoys defending but also has a good offensive side to his game. He has a fighting spirit and will be a very good addition to our squad.”

Sagna, meanwhile, will be linking up with plenty of old friends:

“It is great to be joining Arsenal and I’m excited to be playing alongside many great players. I know Abou Diaby from our time together at Auxerre and also Gael Clichy and Mathieu Flamini from the French Under-21 team. Also Arsène Wenger is a major reason why I have signed for Arsenal. He is an excellent manager with a fantastic record and I am really looking forward to working with him. I’m also looking forward to playing at Emirates Stadium and winning trophies for the Club and all the supporters.”

The fee, as reported here this morning, could rise to £7.5m.

I’m really pleased.  If we add a winger to the additions of Fabianski, Eduardo, and now Sagna, we’ll have strengthened in all the right areas.

Hungry for Le Sagna

386 comments July 12th, 2007

It’s a funny this one.  The French press are none the wiser.  It reminds me a bit of the long, drawn-out wait for Theo Walcott – we knew he had eyes for us only, and that personal terms were agreed, yet we had to endure lengthy negotiations with Southampton, constantly interrupted by Queen Rupert’s hunting trips. I’m going to try and stop thinking about it until something more concrete comes along.

UPDATE: Oh look, my oh-so clever reverse psychology worked within minutes.  L’Equipe report that he’ll sign today after a fee that could rise as high as £7.5m was hammered out last night.  So, just a bit more waiting to do now.  Tum-tee-tum.

If Freddie Ljungberg’s wage demands prove a problem for Fiorentina, it might be that he decides to stay in England with newly-moneyed Manchester City.  Whilst it would sting a bit to see him playing for another English club, I’m sure we could coax a couple of quid more out of Dr. Thaksin “Frank” Sinawatra than the Italians.

I don’t know if The Independent stand to make any money from Obafemi Martins’ £13m transfer fee, but all week they have been peddling a story that, frankly, hasn’t got any wheels.  Martins will reportedly meet Sam Allardyce today to discuss his future, and my sincere expectation is that he will decide to stay at St. James’ Park.  However highly I or even Arsene might rate him, I can’t see us buying him.

Arseblogger reports on more misdemeanours on the part of the Spanish press.  Well, fortunately, someone had a laugh at the expense of AS yesterday, as this screenshot shows.  Class.

UPDATE II: Thanks to arseblogger himself for pointing out that this is not a hack, and I am just an idiot.  Whatever – it’s still funny.

Till later.