Former defender Bacary Sagna says his loyalties may be split, but his heart still leans towards Arsenal as the Premier League title race gathers pace.
The ex-France international, who represented both Arsenal and Manchester City, admits he would like to see Mikel Arteta’s side finish the job this season, even if it means denying his other former club another crown.
Arsenal’s grip on top spot has loosened slightly in recent weeks. A brief stumble, combined with City’s relentless pursuit, has ensured the contest looks destined to be decided in the closing weeks.
Not long ago, with just 10 minutes left of City’s pivotal clash at Liverpool, the Gunners were on course to stretch their lead to nine points — a margin that may have proved decisive.
Instead, two late strikes transformed the outlook of the race. Further dropped points against Brentford and Wolves trimmed Arsenal’s advantage to five, with City still holding a game in hand. The momentum shift reignited belief among Pep Guardiola’s men, while testing Arsenal’s resolve.
Yet Arteta’s side responded emphatically, brushing aside Tottenham 4-1 in the north London derby. For Sagna, that reaction under pressure underlined why he believes his former team-mate is ideally suited to lead the club at this pivotal juncture.
“Mikel Arteta is the man for the situation Arsenal are in right now,” Sagna told Ladbrokes at the launch of ‘Ladisfaction’.
Having watched Arsenal consistently challenge near the summit in recent seasons, Sagna believes their sustained competitiveness should not be underestimated.
“When you see that Arsenal have finished second for the past three years, anyone who has played in the Premier League knows how difficult it is to maintain that level, and keep fighting for titles, over such a long period of time.
“Man City, for those first couple of seasons, were out of reach, due to the depth of their squad. Arsenal have been able to build up slowly and add depth with every transfer window, and this is why they’re now in the position they’re in.”
According to Sagna, one of the most significant differences between the current squad and earlier versions lies in the options available beyond the starting XI.
“In previous years, if one player from the starting eleven was injured, it would have a huge impact on the team, and on results. But now, there is cover in every position, and so much quality on the bench.
“The team is so good, and that’s down to Mikel. He started with Edu, and he built this team into what it is today, and got the club challenging again.”
Sagna has observed Arteta’s work at close quarters and is convinced the Spaniard’s authority at the club is secure, regardless of how the season concludes.
“I’ve witnessed it up close, because I was travelling with the team in pre-season. I can tell you, regardless of what’s going to happen between now and the end of the season, Mikel is going to remain the manager in charge of the situation, and he’s going to have a long streak with Arsenal.
“I’m praying for him to win the league this year, honestly. He deserves it because of the way he treats people. He treats people equally and gives people opportunities. Whether it’s on or off the pitch, he gives people the chance to bring something else to the game.
“He has a human side that not many people have. Pep [Guardiola] has a human side too, even when people are criticising him, Pep has a big heart. But Mikel is the same.”
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Sagna made 213 Premier League appearances for Arsenal after arriving from Auxerre in 2007 under Arsene Wenger. Over seven seasons, he became one of the division’s most dependable right-backs, coming close to major honours on several occasions before finally lifting the FA Cup to end a nine-year wait for silverware.
He later joined Manchester City on a free transfer, adding further experience to the evolving project at the Etihad. That journey leaves him emotionally connected to both sides now battling for supremacy.
“I have a lot of love and respect for both clubs [Arsenal and Man City]. Of course, I am more Arsenal orientated, because I played there for seven years,” said Sagna.
“I had a strong history with Arsenal, my kids were born while I was playing there, I also lost my brother while I was playing for them and they’ve always been like a family for me and been nothing but supportive. So I’m very affectionate towards Arsenal.
“But I also have massive respect for Man City. If I had to choose one of them to win the league this season, I might go for Arsenal, because Man City have won it so many times over the last few years, and it won’t change anything for them, for me they will still remain the best team in the world over the past five years.
“So, I would like to see a change, and I would like to see Arsenal finally rewarded for a lot of hard work that’s gone into the last few years.
“Those fans have shown me a lot of love, and so I want to see them celebrating at the end of the season. And then I’ll go back to 55% Arsenal, 45% Man City!”
