Quote Originally Posted by Syn View Post
Sagna was actually pretty good for us going forward last season. His crossing in particular somehow managed to improve a lot, it was Giroud's wastefulness and a general lack of bodies in the box that prevented him from notching up a few more assists.

I still think a defender's primary job is to defend and with that in mind we were never going to buy someone better than Sagna. No point slitting wrists over it but Sagna is going to be a big loss. We're going to have to rethink our whole strategy, right from Szczesny lumping the ball forward to the right for Sagna to win the first header. If we play more down the left, Gibbs is going to have to grow some balls and be more decisive in the final 1/3.
I tend to agree.

As far as I can see, we would be replacing Sagna with a player inferior defensively, a smidgen younger and a little more astute with the ball at his feet, but as you suggest....Sagna was no small part of that solid back line we had last season (minus the infamous embarrassments) and his crossing was very good. That is without getting into his aerial prowess and his ability to play across the back line which he had to do a number of times.

It is the sort of status quo, underwhelming signing we have become used to over the Arsenal. At least Richards is 25 and has the excuse of injury and being behind a club happy to stock pile players.