Bacary Sagna on Arsenal’s Title Relief, the Transfer Strategy, and France’s “Unstoppable” World Cup Bid

Kathy Morris Sports Betting Expert

10 minute read

Source: Alamy/Andrew Mackay

While the heartbreak in Budapest denies them a historic continental double, nothing can overshadow what Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal accomplished this season. By shattering a grueling 22-year drought to lift the Premier League trophy, the Gunners have officially restored domestic dominance and fundamentally rewritten the cultural fabric of the club.

We sat down with former Arsenal and French international defender Bacary Sagna to process the emotional relief of the league title, his personal relationship with Arteta, the end-of-season awards, and a look ahead to a highly anticipated World Cup.

Key Takeaways:

• The 22-Year Emotional Relief: Sagna opens up about the massive weight lifted off the club, admitting he is simply "happy it finally came now, because my friends won't tease me anymore" after over two decades of near-misses and post-Wenger frustration.
• Arteta’s "Crazy" Tactical Origins: Sharing personal anecdotes from their playing days under Arsène Wenger, Sagna reveals that during casual house visits to "enjoy the game and eat snacks," Arteta would instantly override the mood because "he always wanted to speak to me about tactics" and formations.
• The Absolute Player of the Season: Sidestepping traditional superstars, Sagna drops a massive claims by stating, "if I have to give an award to the best player of the season in the whole world, I would give it to Timber," praising the defender's unmatched 1v1 consistency.
• The Old-School Fearlessness at the Back: Sagna heaps immense praise on the central defensive partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães, noting that "they are not scared at all" and pointing to how Gabriel plays "on fire" when tasked with shutting down Erling Haaland.
• A Scathing World Cup Forecast: Looking ahead to the international stage, Sagna firmly declares that he "honestly [doesn't] see a team that can beat France," completely dismissing their main global rivals by labeling Argentina as "aging" and claiming England inherently "struggle to deal with the pressure."
• The Crucial Ronaldo Constraint: While Sagna respects a dangerous Portugal side, he highlights a massive tactical bottleneck for them in the summer heat, warning that "the intensity of the game might be too much for Cristiano Ronaldo" because "he's not 30 anymore."

(This Q&A has been edited for brevity)

Arsenal's Coronation and the Tactical Architect

Q. As a beloved ex-Gunner, how are you feeling now that Arsenal have finally won the Premier League after a gap of 22 years?

Bacary Sagna: I feel relieved. It is a relief. The fans have been waiting for that moment for a long time. Some of the years they were really close, especially in recent years. The team has found some consistency.

It has been a difficult time, especially after Arsene Wenger left but Mikel Arteta has continued the great work together with the players. Now, they can finally see the results on the pitch.

It is not just about the players but about the whole staff around them as well. It is also about the fans and how the team has felt the love and support from the fans.

But even though Arsenal didn't win the league the last couple of years, they were still one of the best teams in Europe. They have been really consistent.

I am not surprised because I expected the team to win the league two years ago. I am happy it finally came now, because my friends won't tease me anymore.

I am super happy for Arteta as well. I am over the moon. Arteta is super genuine and he always puts other people first. He always puts the players first.

As a player as well, he always checked up on other players. He didn't like to see when players were left out. Especially the new players. He really liked being present and vocal in the dressing room.

When he came to Arsenal it was a big push to us as players as well. He was like a role model for us. Wenger knew that he needed that kind of figure as a player, who could lift everyone. Wenger expected him to become a coach back then and some players are just made for it. That is the case for Arteta.

I used to go to his house and watch matches and every time I went just to enjoy the game and eat snacks, he always wanted to speak to me about tactics. He would always talk about formations and I always thought he was crazy, you know?

I am very pleased for him, because it has not always been easy for him, especially when he came as a manager. He asked people to trust the process but he got a lot of criticism. But he convinced people to be patient because you don't just come back to the top overnight, especially when you are competing in such a competitive league.

Let's not forget Arsenal was competing with Manchester City and they were the best team in Europe for a long time - and they still are one of the best teams in Europe. They were not just competing against random teams.

Q. Do you think Arsenal have the platform to build a dynasty now? Especially with Pep Guardiola leaving?

Bacary Sagna: This is the Premier League. It is the best league in the world, so new challenges will already come soon. Man United is picking up slowly and coming back to their best. The players are feeling at home now.

Chelsea will arrive at some point because they are investing a lot of money and they still have young players who will just get better. They will pick up as well.

Manchester City have so many quality players so they will keep being there. The league is just so competitive, so every season teams will be there to create trouble.

Liverpool will also come back to their best. In a way we are just blessed to be able to witness crazy football week after week. Of course, I would like Arsenal to build on this and become even more successful, but it is very difficult.

Evaluating the Champions- Awards and the Physical Edge

Q. Raya, Rice, Gabriel. Who’s your pick for Player of the Season?

Bacary Sagna: For me, Timber is the Player of the Season for Arsenal. He has been very solid. Going forward one on one has been good and he is probably the most consistent player in the team. He always delivers and he is just super consistent.

If I have to give an award to the best player of the season in the whole world, I would give it to Timber.

To define a player as the best player is tough, because there is a lot of competition out there. Everyone has different characteristics. But surely, Rice is in the top three in his position.

His physical presence is incredible. He is maybe not that type of player who is shining all the time, but he is always in the right spot at the right time. He is stopping the counter attacks and is reading the game perfectly.

I saw some people talking about him only playing sideways and backway but I think he is not about stats. He is about reading the game and he reads the situations perfectly. He is putting himself in situations that other players don't do and he is always fighting and running.

I think his understanding of the game is among the best in his position.

I like that Gabriel and Saliba are both great at defending one on one. They are not scared at all, like when you see Gabriel against Erling Haaland he is on fire. He is not scared to fight and I really like that. They are not committing a lot of mistakes. They are a bit old school and I love watching them.

Q. In a way, Arteta’s sides have improved on the weaknesses from the Wenger years where Arsenal lacked a physical edge. Do you find it amusing that the club is criticised for addressing those weaknesses? Why do you think that happens?

Bacary Sagna: People will never be 100% satisfied. When people are talking about the set pieces or winning ugly, that is just a part of the game. Every player understands that and they will just close their ears and move forward.

Today, with Social Media, of course the criticism gets a bit more loud and noisy, but all the players nowadays are able to cope with the pressure.

But I just don't understand people, because set pieces are a part of the game. Back in the days, people were impressed with it and tried to recreate it but now it is a problem all of a sudden.

At the end of the day, Arsenal are the champions, right? I don't understand coaches or ex players who are complaining. I don't believe that this is the only thing Arsenal can offer.

The way they criticise the set pieces, people should also criticise teams who come to play at Emirates but are refusing to play football. They can't even put three passes together. I don't think Arsenal should listen to the criticism.

Q. What are areas that Arsenal really needs to strengthen for next season? Any left wingers you’d like to see at the club? Bradley Barcola maybe?

Bacary Sagna: I am pleased with Trossard and Martinelli. Let's not forget Martinelli is 24. He's still very young and he will still improve and having Trossard in front of him will bring competition.

Trossard as well, he's been scoring vital goals. I think he's been really good and having a major impact. I don't see the need for anyone else.

Honestly, the way I see the team now, they don't need to add any players.

The Global Landscape -World Cup and the MLS

Q. Who do you think will be the biggest challengers for France at the World Cup?

Bacary Sagna: Portugal or Spain. I think France has three competitive teams within the squad. The depth is incredible. We have fantastic strikers, fantastic players, we're strong defensively and offensively and we're good at set-pieces too. It's a complete team and it's a team that gels well together. They are friends off the pitch.

The only issue, if I want to call it an issue, is if they're going to be able to deal with the pre-World Cup vibe because players leaving for five weeks can be long sometimes. They have to not let the pressure take over.

Didier Deschamps is building a team based on whoever is able to deal with it and accept decisions. I'm not worried. When I see the team I can't be worried.

The players have been performing very well this season. Olise has been phenomenal. Mbappe, phenomenal, even if people are criticising him. I don't know what people expect from him. Yes of course you have the feeling that he's a little reserved and he could do much more and have a greater impact. But he's scored over 40 goals this season. He's still had a good season.

Doue has been flying with Paris. He can finish the season on a good note. I think France has the most competitive team.

Argentina is aging, I believe. England, they struggle to deal with the pressure and they struggle to perform even though they have a big fanbase.

Portugal is a consistent team. The only issue is that the intensity of the game might be too much for Cristiano Ronaldo. The heat and the intensity of games. He's not 30 anymore. Maybe Portugal will play a bit differently.

Other than that, no. I honestly don't see a team that can beat France.

We played Brazil in a friendly recently and the way we played, I know it was friendly, it was amazing.

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Q. Key players for France at the World Cup?

Bacary Sagna: Mbappe of course. Olise, after being named Bundesliga Player Of The Season. Dembele of course. Honestly, we have so many. Rayan Cherki. We have so many options.

Q. Are you worried about Tchouameni after all that’s happened at Real Madrid with Valverde?

Bacary Sagna: No. He has been one of the most consistent Real Madrid players. He and Valverde have been the most solid players for Real Madrid this season.

So no, I'm not worried. And it will be a different environment at the World Cup with the national team. It's not the club locker room.

Q. Matty Longstaff, formerly of Newcastle, is currently at Montreal - would like to see him back in the EPL at all? Or is Montreal the best place for him?

Bacary Sagna: I played for Montreal and I had an amazing time when I was there. I was 35 when I went there. Matty Longstaff is younger. As long as he's enjoying his football and getting game time, why not?

It's a personal choice and I would rather him being in Montreal playing than sitting on the bench at Newcastle anyway. It's a personal choice and if he wants to come back to the Premier League, he will be able to shine in the MLS and come back.

It's a personal matter. How you like the city, how you cope with living far, discovering the MLS. It's a personal choice.

Kathy Morris

Kathy is Digital PR Specialist at VegasInsider where she creates fun, data based content. Her research has been featured by the WSJ, FastCompany, Cornell, the LATimes, and more. She lives in St. Louis, MO, home of the worst pizza and the best baseball team. She spends her free time building data visualizations, reading, and hoping this year the Cards make it far enough she gets to wear her Cardinals’ sweatshirt More from Kathy Morris