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Arsenal's Bacary Sagna praises right-back deputies while he recovered from injury
The 28-year-old defender feels that the players that have stepped into his shoes did a great job in his absence, considering that most were performing out of their normal position
Feb 4, 2012 11:47:00 AM
By Tom Marshall-Bailey
Getty
Arsenal full-back Bacary Sagna has praised his team-mates who filled his vacant right-back slot during his rehabilitation from injury.
The French international suffered a broken leg in the Gunners' 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in October and was ruled out for four months.
Sagna returned to the first-team with 90 minutes under his belt during Arsenal's frustrating 0-0 draw with Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday night and he was the first to compliment the job done by various members of the squad in his absence.
“They’ve done well, it’s not easy when you have to change position," Sagna told Arsenal.com. "I don’t see myself playing for two or three months at centre-back, for example!
"You have to adapt, and at this level you don’t get a lot of time to do that. The pace is different on the flanks and you have to cover a bit more distance, but the guys have coped well.”
A total of five players have tested themselves in the right-back position since Sagna sustained his injury. Natural replacement Carl Jenkinson was hit by a stress fracture in his back at the tail end of last year and so two centre backs and two defensive midfielders, by trade, have tried their luck.
Johan Djourou, Laurent Koscielny, Francis Coquelin and Nico Yennaris have all been deployed on the right-hand side of defence by Arsene Wenger and Sagna was particularly impressed with how the latter two youngsters handled themselves when they played.
“They’re amazing,” he said. “They just play and don’t worry about anything.
"I was happily surprised with Nico’s performance against Bolton back in October - he closed down really well and imposed himself well.
"He did an equally good job when he came on against Manchester United, and I’m very pleased for him – he’s a hard worker and deserves a lot of credit.
"It’s the same with Francis, he’s a midfield player first of all but he’s given his best at right-back and we know that he’s very good technically too.”
The French international suffered a broken leg in the Gunners' 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in October and was ruled out for four months.
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Sagna returned to the first-team with 90 minutes under his belt during Arsenal's frustrating 0-0 draw with Bolton Wanderers on Wednesday night and he was the first to compliment the job done by various members of the squad in his absence.
“They’ve done well, it’s not easy when you have to change position," Sagna told Arsenal.com. "I don’t see myself playing for two or three months at centre-back, for example!
"You have to adapt, and at this level you don’t get a lot of time to do that. The pace is different on the flanks and you have to cover a bit more distance, but the guys have coped well.”
A total of five players have tested themselves in the right-back position since Sagna sustained his injury. Natural replacement Carl Jenkinson was hit by a stress fracture in his back at the tail end of last year and so two centre backs and two defensive midfielders, by trade, have tried their luck.
Johan Djourou, Laurent Koscielny, Francis Coquelin and Nico Yennaris have all been deployed on the right-hand side of defence by Arsene Wenger and Sagna was particularly impressed with how the latter two youngsters handled themselves when they played.
“They’re amazing,” he said. “They just play and don’t worry about anything.
"I was happily surprised with Nico’s performance against Bolton back in October - he closed down really well and imposed himself well.
"He did an equally good job when he came on against Manchester United, and I’m very pleased for him – he’s a hard worker and deserves a lot of credit.
"It’s the same with Francis, he’s a midfield player first of all but he’s given his best at right-back and we know that he’s very good technically too.”
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
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