As Arsenal’s mission to stop bleeding key players every year continues, the club are set to offer French right-back Bacary Sagna a new contract in the next two weeks.

Derailed

Earlier in the season Arsenal were planning to offer both Sagna and his full-back partner Kieran Gibbs new contracts, but those plans were put on the backburner when Sagna made some comments to L’Equipe expressing mild dissatisfaction with Arsenal’s transfer policy.

When the possibility of extending his contract was raised back then, his answer was non-committal.

““I want to get back playing first, then we will see”.

Not exactly a shining endorsement. Regardless, Arsene Wenger is planning on holding talks with him to ensure he wishes to commit his future.

Bac’s Back

Sagna didn’t have the smoothest season last year, as he suffered two leg breaks, one at Spurs in late September and another against Norwich in the penultimate game of the season. He looked impressive as ever while he was fit, of course, being as he is Arsenal’s Mr Reliable.

He’s back in full training after his latest leg break, and while it will be a couple of weeks anyway before he can be considered for selection, the form of Carl Jenkinson may see him sitting out a few games.

There’s no question that the Frenchman is the finished product and ultimately better than Jenkinson at the moment, but there’s no real point in messing with a winning formula for the sake of including a player, and Jenkinson has been positively majestic this season (though his showdown with Eden Hazard tomorrow will certainly be his sternest test).

Loyal servant

Sagna has been at the Emirates since 2007, when he signed from Auxerre, and his loyalty has never been called into question. He signed a long-term contract in 2009, and with his contract expiring in 2014 he will be 31. His last big contract, and let’s hope he makes the right choice where to earn it.

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