Not another one...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19503848

Make of it what you will. The original L'Equipe article is here for those who speak French (or have a translate button):

http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Sagna-se-pose-des-questions/311270

 

There is no smoke without fire. Sagna is one of the most respected players currently on Arsenal's books. He is one of my favourite players, not only for Arsenal but in the Premiership. This is not only because he is a top quality right back, but he is a man of integrity, playing the game the way it should be. Never have i seen him play dirty or bad mouth the ref, even when things go against him. Never has he uttered a word about Arsenal, the players or the boss. If a man as quiet and dignified as Sagna speaks up, then there really is something stinky going on in the Emirates kitchen.

 

Here’s a translation of what he had to say when asked about the outgoing players this summer. (taken from Arseblog)


“Everyone knew Robin was leaving. But Alex? He’s 24. He had three years on contract. I still don’t understand. He’s a huge loss.

“When the two best players go, you ask questions. Fans come up to me in the street, I understand the frustration. Like them I don’t understand everything.

“I’m the only starting player left from 2007. In May, I watched City’s parade on TV. I saw Samir & Gael lift the trophy. I want that.”

Asked if both Nasri and Clichy were right to leave, Sagna continued:

“Yes, but we didn’t know then.”

When quizzed about his own contract situation, Sagna confirmed that he is contracted at the Emirates until the end of the 2013/14 season.

“I’ve one year left at the end of the season. No, nobody [has spoken to me about a new deal].”


What he says regarding Song going doesn't really worry me, think we've already moved past that point. However the contract situation does give me some cause for concern. I hope we as a club are more proactive with this especially after whats happened these last two summers... (Not holding my breath though!)

 

If he gets over his injuries one of the bigger clubs will buy him, not much we can do to stop that

 

We can't lose him. When fit he's one of the worlds best RB's.

 

Real Madrid always buy him off of me in Football Manager. Make of that what you will...

Seriously though, who can blame him? He's 29. He's just seen a similar-aged RVP move to United. He's seen younger players move to other teams and win things straight away. He is better than Clichy and yet doesn't have a Premiership title or FA cup to speak of. He's only ever won the French Cup and the Intertoto, he surely deserves something out of his career.

 

Then seriously, why doesn't he knuckle down and try and help us win a trophy, these players seem to want a trophy handed to them on a plate, they are the ones on the pitch that have not been good enough to win a trophy. He was part of the 07 08 team as well as all the rest that bottled the league, how about taking some responsibility for a change instead of blaming everyone else but themselves.

 

I do have to agree with Enigma.All these players moan about not having won trophies but they are the team on the pitch.It's about time some of them took responibility for their failings rather than moaning.
We do need to sort Sagna's contract out though.

 

I'd say that Sagna has consistently been class for us. It's not his fault other individuals have let us down - i.e. Carling Cup final. I wouldn't be too surprised to see him leave if we end up empty-handed this season. He doesn't have much longer left, because he's a player who relies on his pace and fitness.

 

I agree sagna has been a great player, but we have had 6 or 7 players say the same thing, they can't all be great and wonderful or we would have won at least one trophy, the CC final was a classic example, kos and schezney get the blame for that mix up, yet nasri missed 2 guilt edge chances, therefore if he had upped his game we would have won that final, yet he claims he left to win a trophy when he basically had a trophy on his right boot twice in the CC final.

 

Given his age i think Sagna is one player who we could afford to let run down his contract.He will after all be 31 when his current contract expires.I hope we do sort his contract out because as you say the lad has been consistently class for us

 

I would imagine Sagna could leave next season. I think we will see hysteria, but I would say it makes sense. If we keep a player until he retires we lose his entire value.

Clubs used to be able to do this more, but with wages becoming so huge, these older players cost a lot more to keep on the books, unless they are willing to take a pay cut (no chance). Sagna's contract will be up for negotiation next summer. Just looking at it, I can't see Arsenal resigning him on the money he is likely to want.

The premier league discusses a "Fair Play" agreement today. Things could get interesting very fast.

 

He is one of if not the best right back in the league when fit.

If he could prove his fitness and that hes over the injuries then I'd hope he would be offered a new deal and see out his career with us.

Maybe Arsene is waiting to see if that is true before discussing a new deal? More likely is that at his age he will be moved on next summer.

 

Norwich fan in peace. Winning a trophy is nothing more than icing on a footballer's cake. The substance and true measure of your professional career as a footballer is the level you attain, measured by the clubs you play for and your international caps, your performance levels and so on. Related to which are the amount of money you earn, the privileged lifestyle, the sponsorship deals, etc. All those "measures" depend on you; winning trophies depends on those around you too. So quite honestly, I take the "I want to win trophies" stuff trotted out by most of them with a huge pinch of salt.
As events over the last few years at Arsenal have unfolded, I've often wondered about how Sagna viewed things. He has never been very vocal; so I am a bit puzzled as to why he should suddenly come out with this. Maybe his agent is thinking it would be a good time to start putting pressure on the club as in "They surely won't want another long drawn out contract drama"!

 

But when he is 30, if Jenkinson continues to improve, Sagna will be a backup CB who wants to be the highest paid player at the club. We shouldn't pay a player based on how he played when he was 25.

 

If people still deny there's an internal problem at Arsenal then I have bridge to sell you.

 

Completely agree.

I think a lot depends on how Jenkinson performs this season and the progress he makes. I would not at all be surprised if Sagna is sold, Jenks becomes first choice RB and we get young player in.

 

I wonder if this is motivated (at least partially) by Jenkinson and his solid performances? Right now, Sagna's the better player, hands down, but in two years one can't help but wonder if the tide may have turned. Having been one of our most consistent players, it can't be nice watching some young upstart threaten to usurp you, especially when you're out injured. That's not to say Sagna doesn't have a point about the best players leaving and Arsenal have certainly appeared negligent in letting players' contracts run down, but the timing is funny. The team seems to be doing well and according to players like Mertesacker, morale is high and things are looking rosy. I can't remember the last time the defence looked this solid. So quite why Sagna has decided to rock the boat now is an interesting question.

But I take issue with this notion that players have to leave to win trophies. Asides from the obvious point that they themselves haven't produced on the pitch, of course Arsenal won't win competitions if the best players constantly sod off: It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. Imagine if we had a team that featured Cazorla and Podolski, but also, say, Van Persie, Nasri, Fabregas, Song and Cole. Now that team would win something. But instead, we're constantly in a state of flux with the players trotting out the 'I wants to win shiny thingz' excuse. Even now, if we only had Van Persie in addition to our current squad, I think we would be in with a shout of the League. Yes, the club have dropped the ball and yes, I do think that the board are more interested in money than success, but the players themselves should damn well step up and take responsibility too. No one made Van Persie leave.

Rant over. I shouldn't drink in the sun after work.

 

Why does stuff like this have to come out? We have just passed a very tough test against a decent liverpool side, spirits are high and then now speculation about sagna's future will get blown up. I can't stress how important it is that we keep him at the club and get him back to fitness as quickly as possible, i can understand that it will be a very frustrating time for sagna having missed the euros and the start of the season through injury and then seeing two of our most influential players leave. But he is one of the leaders in the team and should be behind the manager 100%, it is worrying but the transfer window has closed now and hopefully this whole thing will blow over.

 

So you are saying Arteta is not part of the reason we are doing better? Because if you played Cazorla, Fabregas and Song, you couldn't play Arteta, or Diaby. Jenkinson was man of the match on one blog I read. I don't agree with that, but why should he get less credit for the clean sheets than the rest of the defense. You can't say he wasn't involved.

It gets very tricky when you start mixing players and opinions. I like Sagna, and I liked his attitude until now, but if the boss doesn't think he fits in, I will not shed a single tear for him as the door hits him on the way out..