Arsenal's Bacary Sagna: ‘We’ll bounce back’

Time to fight for the fans, says Frenchman, ahead of Manchester FA Cup tie

Published: 11th March, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

BACARY Sagna insists it’s time to “fight for the fans” as Arsenal look to get their season back on track at Old Trafford on Saturday. 

Defeats to Birmingham and Barcelona have threatened to derail the Gunners’ campaign and added to the pressure of their FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United. 

Sagna, however, is refusing even to consider the possibility that Arsenal may end the season empty-handed.

“We have to be strong now because we want to be successful,” the Frenchman told the club’s official website. “We have to fight for the team, for the fans, and everyone. I am not thinking about the possibility of winning nothing. I am confident and looking forward to winning something. We have to bring something back because we have the quality to do it and we need to do it. We are ready to fight because we are even more frustrated after what happened against Barcelona… Everyone is disappointed but we want to bounce back. We are playing again on Saturday and it will be another big game.”

Captain Cesc Fabregas has been ruled out of Saturday’s FA Cup tie, but striker Robin van Persie will be fit to play. 

Arsene Wenger said that Fabregas had a recurrence of a hamstring problem and could be out for two weeks.

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will also miss the quarter-final after injuring his finger in Tuesday’s Champions League defeat by Barcelona.

With only one fit keeper, Wenger said he might consider an emergency loan.