Sagna relieved to return

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna is delighted to have returned to first-team football after four months out with a broken ankle.

Right-back Sagna made a cameo appearance in Arsenal’s 3-2 FA Cup victory over Aston Villa, a match in which the north London team came back from a two-goal deficit to book their place in the fifth round.

Sagna said his time on the sidelines was a difficult period, but the support he received from his family, friends and the Arsenal fans helped to get him through it.

“I am absolutely delighted,” he told the Arsenal website.

“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 because I have only had two training sessions and it is not easy. But I will do it.”

“I will still work with the fitness coach but I will only get fit by playing games.”

“I am just biding my time to start a game now but I am not rushing. I just want to give the maximum to get myself into the best position.”

“It was nice to have support from my wife, kids and my friends. The fans have also supported me a lot during my recovery and it was quite helpful when I was working.”

Sagna suffered the break during Arsenal’s 2-1 English Premier League defeat to local rivals Tottenham Hotspur on October 2.