3. Bacary Sagna

Some of English football's finest imports needed time to adjust to the pace of the Premier League, including luminaries like Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Robert Pires. Not Bacary. The Frenchman took to the English game immediately following his arrival in the summer of 2007.

First and foremost Bacary has proved himself to be an exemplary defender. His positional awareness, tackling ability and aerial strength secured Arsenal's right side. It was there that he developed a strong understanding with Emmanuel Eboue.

Bacary also impressed on the front foot. Neat and tidy in possession, his willingness to overlap gave Arsenal the width they needed to stretch defences. His crossing was another weapon - one pinpoint effort set up Emmanuel Adebayor's thumping headed winner at Villa Park.

The Frenchman's worth was underlined at Stamford Bridge in March. His first professional goal gave Arsenal a priceless lead but an ankle injury forced him out of the game (and the season). Bacary's departure unbalanced the back four and Chelsea struck twice to inflict a painful defeat.

That untimely injury denied Bacary a chance to shine at Euro 2008 but he is widely-regarded as the long-term successor to current France right back, Willy Sagnol. He looks set to have a long-term impact at the Emirates too.

 

MY YEAR

October

A knee injury picked up on international duty kept Bacary out of most of October’s fixtures. The French defender played 90 minutes of the Gunners’ draw at Sunderland but missed the games against Everton, Fenerbahce and West Ham. He was back in action in the month’s final fixture, the 4-4 draw with Tottenham at Emirates Stadium, playing on the right of an all-French back four against Spurs.

September

Arsenal conceded just one goal from open play in September, largely down to stability in the back four - and Bacary has been a vital component of the quartet. Like many of the other established first-teamers, Sagna was left out of the side against Sheffield United but the Frenchman appeared in the other five September games.

August

Bacary is another who didn't miss a moment of the action in August. After being voted as the best right-back in the Premier League last season, the 25 year-old started 2008/09 in fine form. “Everything was good for the first season and I thank the people who helped me. But now I want to fulfil more of my ambitions,” he said from Arsenal’s Austria training camp. The full-back was called into the France squad to cap a superb month.

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