Three reasons why Arsenal should extend Sagna’s contract

In the past few weeks, it has emerged that Bacary Sagna will be out of contract with Arsenal at the end of the season and that talks have been ongoing regarding whether Arsenal will extend his contract or not. The 30-year-old who has played over 250 games for Arsenal, certainly looks like he has done everything in his power to stay at the club, but it is for Arsenal’s board to decide whether he is worthy of it or not.

Reports say that he might very well sign a new contract before too long, with even Arsene Wenger admitting that he is hoping to receive “positive news” in the coming weeks. If that is true, then Arsenal fans can certainly breathe a huge sigh of relief. And, if there was ever a doubt in whether he merited a new contract, these three reasons should be more than enough for the Frenchman to continue at the club that he signed for in 2007, from Auxerre.

Continuity breeds stability

If there is one thing that has been striking about Arsenal’s record so far this season, it has been the fact that their defense has looked rock-solid. The game against Manchester City was certainly an aberration as not many teams are likely to go to the Etihad this season and return without being hammered. After all, their North London rivals Spurs conceded six as well. But, so far this season, Arsenal have, for the most part, been able to play a stable back four, with Koscielny and Mertesacker being at the heart of the defense with Sagna on the right and Gibbs on the left.

The back four have built a certain understanding with each other and it would be foolish on Wenger’s part to not offer Sagna a new contract and mess things up, right when it looks as if it is all coming together. The 30-year-old French right back has almost been an ever-present at the back, having played in all but three of their League games so far and is looking at home with every passing game.

All-round ability

Not only is the Frenchman, deceptively good in the air and solid at the back, he is always a threat going forward. As he has demonstrated time and again, his crossing ability is one of his biggest assets and his link-up play with the man in front of him is certainly one that Wenger will only know too well about. Sagna is always ready to bomb forward and help with the attack and because of his pace, he is more than capable of getting back and recovering any situation.

When Sagna first came to England, he certainly looked like a player that needed some fine tuning, but now the Frenchman has developed into one of the finest right backs in the League and automatic first-choice for his country. With his all-round ability, he has arguably been one of the best right backs so far this season and it would be a bleeding shame if Arsenal were to lose out on the Frenchman at the end of the season for nothing.

Lack of a quality replacement

Whilst it might be easy to say that Sagna is now 30, he will be on his way down from here on in and there is no point in renewing his contract, the fact is that, whilst all of that might be true, they don’t really have anybody to replace him with at the moment. The only other player, who has played at right back so far this season has been Carl Jenkinson and he is unlikely to ease any fears that the Arsenal fans might have about the Frenchman leaving.

If Arsenal were to not renew his contract, which isn’t looking likely at the moment, that might mean that they will have to splash the cash in January or at the very least in the Summer on a new player, who will have to get accustomed to their style of play and the continuity and defensive shape that have had so far this season will be lost.