Bacary Sagna claims surprise Arsenal star has been best player in the world this season | Football

Former Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has made the remarkable claim that current Gunners star Jurrien Timber has been the best player in the world this season.

Arsenal have had a fantastic season, winning the Premier League for the first time in 22 year and narrowly missing out on their first ever Champions League triumph.

Timber has certainly been hailed for his performances, but even in the Arsenal side it has been Declan Rice and David Raya who have been touted for indivudual awards ahead of the Dutchman.

Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes won the Premier League Player of the Season, while Barcelona’s Raphinha won the same award in La Liga.

Inter’s Federico Dimarco won Serie A MVP, Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise won Bundesliga Player of the Season and PSG’s Ousmane Dembele got the nod in Ligue 1.

However, Sagna reckons Timber has done more than any of those stars, outperforming everyone on the planet this season.

For me, Timber is the Player of the Season for Arsenal,’ Sagna told Vegas Insider. ‘He has been very solid. Going forward one on one has been good and he is probably the most consistent player in the team. He always delivers and he is just super consistent.

‘If I have to give an award to the best player of the season in the whole world, I would give it to Timber.’

Sagna, who played 284 times for Arsenal from 2007-14 but didn’t win the Premier League, did also have high praise for Rice, saying he is in the top three in his position in the world.

‘To define a player as the best player is tough, because there is a lot of competition out there. Everyone has different characteristics. But surely, Rice is in the top three in his position,’ said the 65-cap France international.

‘His physical presence is incredible. He is maybe not that type of player who is shining all the time, but he is always in the right spot at the right time. He is stopping the counter attacks and is reading the game perfectly.

‘I saw some people talking about him only playing sideways and backway but I think he is not about stats. He is about reading the game and he reads the situations perfectly. He is putting himself in situations that other players don’t do and he is always fighting and running.

‘I think his understanding of the game is among the best in his position.’

Sagna may have been getting carried away at several points here, including claiming that Arsenal do not need to strengthen in any areas, including left wing where they have bene strongly linked with making a signing.

‘I am pleased with [Leandro] Trossard and [Gabriel] Martinelli. Let’s not forget Martinelli is 24. He’s still very young and he will still improve and having Trossard in front of him will bring competition.

‘Trossard as well, he’s been scoring vital goals. I think he’s been really good and having a major impact. I don’t see the need for anyone else.

‘Honestly, the way I see the team now, they don’t need to add any players.’

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