The athletic right-back was signed for approximately ?8 million from Auxerre last summer and proved one of the players of the season during his debut campaign in England.
He injured himself shortly after scoring a goal that had just put the Gunners in the lead against Chelsea in what proved to be a game they would go onto lose and throw themselves well and truly out of the title race in the process, having led by five points just weeks previously.
?It was not just because of me,? he said, looking back on last season’s failure. ?Everything changed, some players were playing not in their positions, and it is always difficult when you change everything.
?But it was difficult personally to see my team-mates losing games.
?This season, we will try to be wiser. We will show everyone we are still the Gunners and that we can win the title.
?We play to win everything and we will try to do it.?
The 24-year-old is looking forward to the new season and believes the club is continuing to go from strength to strength, despite worries as the club have shedded more than they acquired in this summer’s transfer dealings.
?I am very happy because I have not been playing for five months, so it is great to be back here with all my mates,? he continued.
?We have been getting better and better. We are playing quite well at the moment, and won on Sunday against a good team [in Real Madrid].
?We showed everyone that we can still play well, even if we have lost some players.?
Sagna reserved special praise for fellow fringe player of the French national team, Samir Nasri. The playmaker labeled the new Zinedine Zidane when he emerged as a teenager signed for an initial fee rumoured to be in the region of ?13 million.
?I think he can do it and will show everyone he can play very well,? said Sagna. ?Samir is a very good player and we are lucky to have signed him.
?I have played alongside him in the French national team. I believe he will show everyone he can play very well and will find his place in the Arsenal team.?
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