Bacary Sagna has become the latest player to back team-mate Samir Nasri to be named Footballer of the Year.
Gunners midfielder tipped to be Footballer of the Year
Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has become the latest player to back team-mate Samir Nasri to be named Footballer of the Year.
England captain Rio Ferdinand has already stated that the French maestro should be given the accolade after making comments on Twitter during Nasri's performance in the FA Cup replay against Leeds on Wednesday.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for the 23-year-old, who despite his talent appeared to have lost his way last season and paid for it with his omission from France's World Cup squad last summer.
But it would appear his absence from the debacle that followed in Les Bleus' training camp in South Africa has galvanised the player, and will almost certainly be in contention for the awards come the end of the season.
The likes of Tottenham duo Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale are likely to be in the running, but Sagna felt that the former Marseille man, who also won the French Footballer of the Year award this year, was deserving of the accolade.
Compliment
"Coming from a player like Ferdinand, it's the best compliment he can give Samir," he said.
"He knows what the game is like here and how difficult it is to play well in the Premier League.
"I think he's right. Samir is doing really well this season. If he keeps playing like this, then he will be the best player this season."
"I am not surprised at all by his form," he said. "When he first came he always had problems with injuries or something.
"This is the first time he is quite fit and healthy, so it's a bit easier for him to keep going and give these performances. He's one of the best players in the league.
"I'm not surprised to see him play like this because he has been doing this for France. He's on top at the minute. He's on the top of his form and he is showing everybody that he is one of the best players in the league."
