Arsenal's Bacary Sagna will be key in stopping Samir Nasri

Bacary Sagna

Arsenal have been given a boost in the news that Bacary Sagna is back to fitness and in contention to face Manchester City this weekend.

Sagna has been absent for the past two games, as well as the midweek defeat to Napoli, but looks set to be back in the squad for the trip to the Etihad on Saturday.

In his stead, Carl Jenkinson has performed perfectly amicably, but one would fear that he could be exploited by a rampaging Samir Nasri19, who has been in excellent form and will be out for blood against his former club.

Sagna has been successful in his duels with opponents

You would worry over the fact that Jenkinson has not made an interception in his past two appearances, while only making one tackle, despite Everton having a lot of possession down Arsenal’s right hand flank last Sunday.

While Sagna has only made 14 interceptions in his 12 appearances so far this season, he has won 11 tackles at a success rate of 69%, while his aerial victories also put his understudy in the shade.

Sagna 63% of his headed duels this season, winning 34 headers so far, while Jenkinson has managed to win just seven headers in his nine appearances for the Gunners.

If Arsenal do manage to be an attacking force against a rampant City side high on confidence after defeating Bayern Munich, Sagna will also prove to be more useful to the cause, creating eight chances so far this season, while Jenkinson has mustered just the three, although he has assisted two goals while Sagna still awaits to be credited with an assist.

Should Arsene Wenger decide to recall the Frenchman at the first available opportunity, he will be up against his compatriot in Nasri, who has been in scintillating form this season, creating 31 chances for his colleagues, scoring four goals himself and completing a massive 27 take-ons at a completion rate of 77%.

22.6% of his chances created have come inside the left-hand quadrant, so he keeps right-backs as occupied as much as any time he drifts into his more customary central position.

Nasri has been in sparkling form for Manchester City

With City’s home form having been absolutely incredible this season, Sagna will be in for a tough battle if he immediately returns from injury and will have to be on top of his game if Arsenal are not to slump to a second crucial victory inside a week.