Sagna Wage Demands Threaten to Dampen Arsenal's Season

Recent reports have suggested that Arsenal left back Bacary Sagna, whose contract runs out in the summer, has demanded talks with Arsenal over a new salary believed to be worth £100,000 a week for the next three years, despite interest from other European clubs including Turkish side, Galatasaray. 

The timing of the news will no doubt be unwelcoming to Arsene Wenger and Arsenal fans, who will hope all of the players are fully focused on the season run in.  However, Arsene Wenger is fully aware of the need to take immediate action. He has stated before he does not want to lose Sagna and sees the Frenchman as an important and pivotal player in his side.

So how will Wenger play it?

He could cave in to Sagna’s wage demands and settle a new deal now to keep the player happy, but knows that in doing so, it could have a detrimental effect on other players who could feel they deserve a similar deal. 

This would break Arsene Wenger’s strict wage policy (despite the record signing of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid) that has stood for so long, to balance the books at Arsenal since moving to The Emirates stadium.

Or should he stick to his guns and allow Sagna to leave in the summer, thus risking other players to follow suit and seeing a team he has re built to challenge for honours, dismantle before his own eyes.

Eight years and counting Mr Wenger.

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