Should Arsenal offer a new contract to Bacary Sagna after he was exposed against Southampton?

Bacary Sagna and Olivier Giroud

In the undercurrent of Arsenal’s prosperous campaign has lain Bacary Sagna’s contract situation – the 30-year-old’s current deal set to expire at the end of June.

It’s certainly an object of worry for those surrounding the Emirates camp, with questions surrounding Carl Jenkinson’s ability to succeed the seventh-year Gunner.

On Tuesday concerns returned to matters between the lines as Arsene Wenger’s men traveled to St Mary’s to take on Southampton – a largely dour showing yielding a 2-2 draw.

And out of all those present in the starting eleven, Sagna in particular struggled to deal with a sprightly Saints side.

A tense 90 minutes – in which Arsenal were subjected the most pressure they’ve seen this side of Manchester City – saw the Frenchman emerge with a rather paltry Performance Score of seven.

Bacary Sagna’s performance scores

Sagna’s assignment on the day was always going to be difficult in lining up opposite the sought-after Luke Shaw, and indeed it proved so.

From the off he looked sluggish, as did most of his team-mates, lacking the sharpness that has seen him slot in as Arsenal’s fifth best outfielder in terms of Performance Score this season.

Despite constant forays forward from the Saints, Sagna spent a great deal of time in the opposition’s end in the first half, leaving the Gunners exposed down the right.

Bacary Sagna action heat map

Adam Lallana and Shaw were keen to take advantage of the space afforded and indeed did so – such being particularly evident in view of the latter’s action areas map.

Luke Shaw action heat map

Serge Gnabry was pressed into doing a great deal of defending as a result of the France international’s hesitance in tracking back, compromising Arsenal’s prospects going forward.

Jose Fonte’s opener saw Sagna leave the German to challenge Shaw out wide – the right-back instead taking up a position in no-man’s land – with the attack-minded Gnabry falling prey to the youngster, who duly picked out his team-mate at the far post.

On the ball, Sagna was quite poor as well throughout – completing just 26 of 42 passes (64%) to tie Southampton front man Sam Gallagher for the worst success rate of all outfield starters.

Bacary Sagna stats against Southampton

In fairness he did provide the assist for Olivier Giroud’s opener, seizing on a wayward delivery to set up a deft finish from the Frenchman – but provided little else in failing on all three crosses he attempted.

And Southampton’s second of the day saw him at fault, too, Sagna unable to close down Jay Rodriguez as he corralled a long ball forward to square for Lallana’s finish.

Success in just two of six tackles show how easily the veteran was beaten by his more energetic adversaries, whilst his four interceptions and five clearances were more a testament to the pressure exerted by the Saints.

Sagna hasn’t had much of a rest this term, compiling the fourth most minutes in the Arsenal squad excluding Wojciech Szczesny at 1709, and it may be taking a toll.

Arsenal performance scores

In truth, the Frenchman’s team-mates didn’t display the high level expected of them either, but though the full-back did leave his mark with an assist, he looked off the pace more than most.

At 30 years of age the long season isn’t easily contended with and Mauricio Pochettino’s high-octane tactics proved a bane to a player that could well be suffering from fatigue.

Certainly Sagna remains a crucial component of this Gunners side – one lacking performance shouldn’t write him off in what’s wholly been a fruitful term – and contract talks will likely persist, though did show he is vulnerable if not on his day at this point in his career.