Ex-Arsenal star Bacary Sagna rips into senior players with no "character"
Bacary Sagna had some harsh words for the current crop of Arsenal players after they were soundly beaten 2-0 by Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon
Posted Monday, August 23, 2021 by Dailystar.co.uk
Former Arsenal star Bacary Sagna has questioned the character of the club's senior players after their dismal defeat against Chelsea.
The Gunners followed up last week's embarrassing 2-0 loss too Brentford with another reverse by the same scoreline at the Emirates, this time to London rivals Chelsea.
On a difficult afternoon for Mikel Arteta's men, Romelu Lukaku took advantage of sloppy defending to convert Reece James's pin-point cross to put the Blues 1-0 up with his first goal for the club.
James, a thorn in Arsenal's side throughout the match, turned scorer for the second, finishing off a well-worked move by blasting home beyond Bernd Leno.
Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna didn't hold back in his criticism
That put Chelsea in command of the game before half-time, leading ex-Gunner Sagna to draw some harsh conclusions during his analysis for RMC Sport.
Sagna, who made 284 appearances for the Gunners between 2007 and 2014 and helped the club win the 2014 FA Cup, was damning in his conclusions.
"Maybe we have players with character, but they have won nothing," Sagna said.
"Today, you know how youngsters are, some older player tells them what to do. They say: “Well what have you won?"
"A player who has won titles barely has to speak to be listened to."
"When I watch Arsenal now, honestly, I know that they are going to lose the majority of the time, that something is going to happen, that we are going to concede a stupid goal," he added.
Sagna's comments about winning echo those made by Romelu Lukaku last week, who talked about feeling more respected as a player after winning his first major title with Inter Milan last season.
"It’s not about records. It’s about winning trophies," Lukaku said.
"I’ve realised how different people’s attitude is towards you when you win something. That’s something that I’ve learned.
"In conversations I had with Didier Drogba or John Terry or Antonio Conte, the respect I have is different when you start winning.
"That was something I really wanted.
"I wanted to win so bad. I went to Inter and then we did. That’s the only thing that matters to me - winning.
"Scoring goals, yes, that’s beautiful. I know I am in a position where I can score a lot of goals.
"But winning trophies, that sets you apart."
On the latest evidence, it doesn't look as though Arsenal will be winning any trophies any time soon.
But Chelsea can look forward to challenging on all fronts after another decisive victory at the Emirates.
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