Arsenal Defender Bacary Sagna Welcomes Mathieu Flamini Return

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Defender pleased with Flamini signing.

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Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna is pleased that the club have re-signed midfielder Mathieu Flamini on a free transfer, he told Arsenal.com.

The former Gunner has rejoined the club after a five-year spell with Serie A giants AC Milan, and will be tasked with the job of filling in for injured duo Mikel Arteta and Abou Diaby at the Emirates Stadium.

Some eyebrows have been raised again over Arsenal’s seeming reluctance to spend big money on new players, but Sagna says he is looking forward to playing with Flamini again, calling him a “warrior”.

“Mathieu is a warrior. I had the pleasure of playing with him six years ago and he is back and very motivated to play for Arsenal. I am looking forward to playing with him again,” he said.

The 30-year-old also had his say on this weekend’s North London derby, and how the possible departure of Gareth Bale might disrupt Tottenham.

Sagna believes Spurs will still be strong without the Real Madrid-bound Welshman, and is predicting a good game on Sunday, confident of achieving a result if Arsenal play to their best.

“Of course (Bale) was really important for their team but they have many other players. Most of them play for their national teams and we know it is not going to be easy but at the same time we believe it is down to us to play our football,” he said.

“As I have said before, we can beat anyone. We have very talented players who are young and motivated.

“This game is one of the highlights of the season because it is a derby – we know how important it is for the fans, the club and the players to win it. The atmosphere is just magic and it will be even more magic if we win on Sunday.”

Arsenal have triumphed 5-2 over their rivals in the last two North London derbies at the Emirates Stadium, with Sagna scoring in the fixture two seasons ago.


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