Sagna takes aim at Gallas

Bacary Sagna declared war on former Arsenal team-mate William Gallas yesterday ahead of the north London derby tomorrow. But the Gunners full-back insisted the pair would resume their strong friendship as soon as the final whistle is blown at the Emirates Stadium.

This weekend sees Gallas return to his former club for the first time since crossing the north London divide in one of the most controversial transfers of recent years.

The 33-year-old Tottenham defender can expect a hostile reception from the home fans, many of whom will have branded him a traitor.

And Gallas will be very much the enemy as far as Sagna is concerned during the lunchtime clash. “On the pitch there is a war, but off the pitch we are all friends,” he said.

Indeed, Gallas’s fellow Frenchman bears no grudge towards his former captain for joining Arsenal’s arch-rivals.

“I’m not angry at him because he signed for our rivals,” said Sagna.

“He was always very professional (here) and he always gave everything. Football is football; I’m not furious against him.

“He needed to leave to play football and that is what he loves.”

Gallas’s temperament was questioned during his time as Arsenal captain and he was infamously stripped of the armband after attacking his team-mates.

“That was his hunger because he wanted to win so much,” Sagna said.