Bacary Sagna

August

Bacary continued to recover from a fractured fibula suffered against Norwich City at the end of last season.

September

Bacary did not feature in September.

October

Bacary returned to first-team action against Queens Park Rangers after recovering from a fractured fibula. “I have been out for six months and the last time I played here I broke my leg, so it was very emotional,” Sagna said after making his comeback.

November

Bacary played in all but one of Arsenal’s November fixtures. “It’s very important,” he said after the win against Tottenham. “We want to stick to the top. From now on, we just need to keep focused, look forward and win game by game. It was amazing to play. It’s always a great pleasure to play [in] a derby, especially when you win. It’s just great. We managed to score many goals.”

December

Bacary missed only the Swansea and Olympiacos games in December as he recovered from a foot injury suffered at the end of the previous month.

January

Bacary continued to feature regularly during January, and missed only one game in the month, away at Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup. “We just need to keep pushing because we have many games to come back and we are not far from third position,” said the full back after the Manchester City game.

February

Bacary made three appearances in February. After a late injury to Laurent Koscielny in the warm up, the French international deputised at centre half against Sunderland and produced a composed performance. “Sagna was told 15 minutes before the start that he would play centre back.,” said Arsene Wenger after the win at Sunderland. “I believe he dealt with what he faced in an excellent way."

March

Bacary made one appearance in March after returning from a knee injury. The right back played the entirety of the 4-1 win over Reading at Emirates Stadium, providing Gervinho with the pass from which the Ivorian set up Olivier Giroud’s goal.

April

Bacary played all but 10 minutes of Arsenal’s games in April. The defender was part of the defence that conceded just three goals over the course of the month. “Winning is really massive,” he told Arsenal.com after the win at West Bromwich Albion. “We knew we have to take it game by game and take maximum points. “We're on a good run and we want to keep that going because we still have six weeks to go until the end of the season and we want to qualify for the Champions League. We don't want to look at other teams. We just want to look at our own team and finish in the top four.”

May

Bacary played every minute of Arsenal's last three games of the season and was part of the defence that kept a clean sheet against Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle United.

August

Bacary started the first game of the season at right-back but switched to left-back following an injury to Kieran Gibbs. The French defender missed the trip to Old Trafford through illness.

September

Bacary was an ever-present at right back for Arsene Wenger's first team during the month, playing his part in league victories over Swansea and Bolton and helping Arsenal make a positive start to their Champions League campaign.

October

Bacary underwent surgery to stabilise the fracture on his right fibula after suffering injury in the Tottenham defeat. He is expected to be out for a minimum of three months. Subsequently he did not feature in any of the team's fixtures.

November

Bacary continued his recovery from the fractured fibula he suffered at the beginning of October.

December

Bacary continued to recover from an ankle injury. "You could see that he's a bit ahead of schedule," said Arsene Wenger. "We have to [be careful] but physically he will be ready very quickly because he worked very hard in the gym."

January

Bacary returned from a four-month lay-off as a late substitute in the 3-2 win over Aston Villa at the end of the month. “I am absolutely delighted,” he said. “It's been quite difficult all these months - four is a long time. I just needed to get back as quick as possible and now I finally am. Now I just need to work even harder to get back, but I will do it."

February

Bacary was an fixture in the first team after fully recovering from his ankle injury. The highlight of his month was a crucial goal in the 5-2 derby win over Tottenham, sparking the brilliant fightback with Arsenal's first of the match. “I knew the ball was going to come back to me and that is why I stayed forward,” he said. “I wanted to score especially because the first game away was difficult for me. I am just very, very happy because this was a day to score.” The right back was involved in the victory over Sunderland, as well as starting in the goalless draw against Bolton.

March

Bacary continued to impress, forming a productive understanding with Theo Walcott on the right-hand side. He provided the superb assist for Robin van Persie's equalising goal against Liverpool and was one of Arsenal's most consistent performers in their excellent run of league form. As Bacary approached his 200th game for the club he said: "I am very proud and I hope that many more games will come with Arsenal. I feel I am part of the scenery here. It is a real honour to play here. I am so lucky to be part of the history of this club.”

April

Bacary featured in every match for Arsenal over the course of the month, helping the team keep clean sheets against Manchester City, Wolves and Chelsea. “I think [he is the best right-back in the league] and I believe that everybody at the Club would share this opinion,” said Arsene Wenger. “Many people outside the Club have this opinion as well."

May

Bacary was ruled out of the European Championship after suffering another fracture to his right fibula - this time higher on his leg. The France international was forced off just 33 minutes into the 3-3 draw against Norwich.

August

Bacary was ever-present in Arsenal's opening three Premier League games in August, helping the Gunners start the season unbeaten. He insisted Arsenal can win the title this season - but only if they maintain their consistency throughout the campaign. “We just need to be more consistent and to be a bit more focused on the pitch.”

September

Bacary made four starts during the month as Arsene Wenger rotated his squad during a busy period. He started the month on the bench for the win over Bolton before starting in games against Sunderland and West Brom in the Premier League and Braga and Partizan Belgrade in the Champions League. Bacary said the players have an added incentive to win the Champions League because the final is at Wembley. "It's a plus for us, for everyone, that the Final's at Wembley, in London. As players, we always want to play in front of our fans.” Bacary represented France at the start of the month in a win against Bosnia & Herzegovina and a shock home defeat to Belarus as Les Blues opened their Euro 2012 Qualifying campaign.

October

Bacary played at Stamford Bridge in the opening game of the month but then picked up a thigh injury during the international break and missed wins against Birmingham City and Shakhtar Donetsk. The right back returned to play 90 minutes in the 3-0 win against Manchester City and replaced the injured Kieran Gibbs after just 18 minutes of the Carling Cup win over Newcastle. He was part of an all-French back four that kept a clean sheet against West Ham in the final game of the month.

November

Bacary was virtually ever-present in the Arsenal defence during the month of November and even popped up with an important goal at Goodison Park. The Frenchman found the net for only the second time in 147 games for the Club when he fired past Tim Howard from a tight angle to put the Gunners ahead after 35 minutes.

December

Bacary was ever-present during the busy month of December. In the final stages of the Champions League game against Partizan Belgrade, he was sent off for a last-man foul on Aleksandar Lazevski. On a more positive note, during the table-topping clash against Chelsea on December 27, the right back dealt brilliantly with Florent Malouda as Arsenal beat their London rivals 3-1.

January

Bacary was sent off in the Premier League game against Manchester City but, following a three-match suspension, returned to action at Leeds with a stunning strike in Arsenal's 3-1 FA Cup win. He made five appearances in January.

February

Bacary started every game in February except the 2-1 win over Barcelona in the Champions League. He made six starts in total.

March

Bacary was a virtual ever-present in March, making four starts at right back.

April

Bacary made three starts during April but a knee injury kept the right back out of games against Blackpool and Liverpool. He returned for the North London derby and also faced Bolton at the end of the month.

May

Bacary was ever-present in May, helping Arsenal to a victory over Manchester United at the start of the month.

August

Bacary started four of Arsenal's five matches in August, missing out on the home win over Portsmouth. The French defender told Arsenal TV Online that he believes the team is stronger than last season and there is no reason why the Gunners can't reach the Champions League Final this term.

September

Bacary started all three of Arsenal's Premier League fixtures in September and was introduced as a substitute in the Champions League match against Standard Liege.

October

Bacary assisted three Arsenal goals in October, and all of them were scored by Robin van Persie. It was the Frenchman who crossed for Robin to open the scoring against West Ham and he found Van Persie for both of the Dutchman's goals in the 3-0 win over Spurs. The defender admitted to Arsenal TV Online that the team "switched off" in the 1-1 draw against Alkmaar in the Champions League.

November

Bacary played all three of Arsenal's Premier League matches in November and gave his reasons as to why the Gunners are conceding more goals this season. "We are scoring lots of goals, it is one of our best starts to the season," he told Arsenal TV Online "But we are conceding more goals. As a defender I am not happy with that because I want us to keep a clean sheet but the most important thing is to score more goals than the other team."

December

Bacary started five games for Arsenal in December, helping the team to clean sheets against Stoke City and Aston Villa. The defender joined local children at Central Children's Library, Islington on Thursday 3 December as part of his commitment to the Premier League's literacy campaign aimed at encouraging families to read together. Speaking after the event Bacary said he had enjoyed his visit. "It was great to talk about the books and played games based on them," he said.

January

Bacary started six Gunners games in January but missed the FA Cup trip to Stoke City with a shoulder injury. At the start of the month he hailed the impact of Arsenal's substitutes in the 2-1 FA Cup victory over West Ham United. "It's always good when substitutes come on the pitch and can change the game," he said. "It's good for the team."

February

Bacary featured in all five of Arsenal's February fixtures and met pupils attending an early morning soccer session at Haverstock Hill Secondary School as part of Arsenal in the Community’s 25th anniversary celebrations. "I’ve participated in quite a few education and sporting schemes," he said. "And the work is just fantastic. I enjoy meeting participants on the schemes – it helps put the Arsenal connection into context for them."

March

Bacary appeared five times in March and told Arsenal.com that the Gunners can deal with the pressure that comes with being in the title race. "We have grown up and are wiser than last year and two years ago," he said. "We have learned a lot and now I think we can deal with the pressure.”

April

Bacary started all five of Arsenal's fixtures in April and visited children studying French through the Arsenal Double Club. "I love visiting the Arsenal Double Club," he said. "It seems to really motivate the children to learn French with Arsenal. I wish I had experienced something similar at school in France to help me with my English.”

May

Bacary started in both of Arsenal's final games of the season. The right back was involved against Blackburn and Fulham. He was named in France's provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup.

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.

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.

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.

November

Bacary joined the long list of Arsenal’s walking wounded for a large part of November. The Frenchman managed 58 minutes of the defeat against Stoke on the 1st and was an unused sub against Dynamo Kyiv four days later. A superb display in the 2-1 victory against Manchester United was to follow but Bacary picked up an ankle injury in the next game against Aston Villa. The problem kept Bacary out of the defeat at Manchester City and the 1-0 win against Dynamo Kyiv. He managed to shrug off the injury in time for the month’s final fixture against Chelsea as Arsenal kept their title hopes alive with a 2-1 victory.

December

Bacary didn’t miss a minute of December’s Premier League action but did not feature in the Carling Cup or Champions League. The Frenchman’s undoubted highlight of the month came two minutes before the break in the Boxing Day clash at Aston Villa. Gabriel Agbonlahor’s header looked destined for the back of the net but Bacary somehow cleared the ball off the line with an acrobatic overhead kick.

January

Bacary went very close to playing every second of January’s action but was substituted after 72 minutes of the month’s penultimate fixture against Everton. The Frenchman produced some predictably sturdy performances throughout the month and, on January 23, he spoke of the “changed nature” within the Arsenal defence.

February

Bacary played all but 20 minutes of February’s action and helped the Gunners to clean sheets in all five of the month’s fixtures. Although Arsenal were wonderfully water-tight at the back, they struggled for goals themselves and on February 23rd, the Frenchman said: “The fans love football and they wish to see their team winning all the time and scoring goals. We understand their frustration. But they have to understand we are human first and we give everything.”

March

Bacary didn’t miss a moment of March action and was influential in the Gunners’ two clean sheets in the month. The Frenchman also stepped up in the penalty shoot-out against Roma on March 11th, slotting home with aplomb from 12 yards. Of Arsenal’s race for fourth place, Bacary said: "We try to play game after game and give everything, take the maximum points and we will see.”

April

After 90 minutes against Man City, Villarreal and Wigan, Bacary missed the next 180 minutes of football with a virus. But the Frenchman did return for the incredible 4-4 draw with Liverpool on April 21, made the bench for the Boro clash five days later and finished the month with 90 minutes in the Champions League Semi-Final first leg against Man United.

May

May was another rock-solid month for Bacary. The Frenchman played every minute of the first four fixtures and was withdrawn after 57 minutes of the fifth, and final game of the season, against Stoke. Speaking to the Official Matchday Programme during the month Bacary said: "We were a long way off fourth place at one point and we responded. We have to look forward because the team is young and we need to stay strong together.”

April

Bacary Sagna was ruled out of all games in April and subsequently will not play again this season. It came after he sustained ankle damage against Chelsea in March.

March

Mixed emotions for Bacary in March. The Frenchman bagged his first goal for the Gunners but was on the losing side at Stamford Bridge. Sustaining an ankle injury late on in that game, he missed the trip to Bolton, the only game he sat out all month, and looks set to be sidelined for much of April.

February

Personal reasons prevented Bacary from playing every minute of Arsenal’s matches in February. The French full-back missed the defeat at Old Trafford but was typically professional in the other four games. His fine touch and cross provided Emmanuel Adebayor with the simplest of tasks to get the first goal of the month away to Manchester City.