Arsenal star suffered horror leg break vs Spurs – but Gunners had the last laugh
Emotions can run high in the north London derby and the tense fixture between Arsenal and Tottenham has thrown up at least one serious injury
The north London Derby is invariably a fiercely contested encounter, with emotions running high. This holds true irrespective of any additional significance determined by league positions – whether Arsenal and Tottenham are at different ends of the table like today or locking horns with a high finish at stake.
While the tension can generate a brilliant atmosphere, it can equally witness emotions spilling over. That was undoubtedly the situation during the 2011-12 campaign, when Bacary Sagna suffered a freak injury in an October clash,
When Sagna broke his leg against Norwich later that same season, Gunners manager Arsene Wenger made reference to the Frenchman suffering the same injury against Spurs in the autumn. Those injuries may have been far from Wenger’s mind after the final week of the season, though, with his team gaining revenge where it mattered most.
“It is a broken fibula, the same leg,” Wenger said following Sagna’s injury against Norwich, which would ultimately leave him unable to represent France at Euro 2012. “He was kicked on it, it has not happened alone.”
“When he was kicked, he has broken the leg. The guy closed him down and walked on him. I don’t know if it was deliberate or not.”
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The initial leg injury came on a day to forget for Arsenal. Not only did they lose Sagna after he landed awkwardly after challenging Spurs left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto, but they also endured a devastating defeat on the pitch.
Rafael van der Vaart had given Spurs the advantage at half-time, before Aaron Ramsey drew things level five minutes into the second period. From then on it was a tale of two right-backs, with Sagna’s day ending early and Tottenham’s Kyle Walker scoring the winner from range.
That October triumph had given Spurs hope of Champions League qualification whilst Arsenal were struggling in 15th – having already lost 4-3 at Blackburn and 8-2 at Manchester United. However, by the time Sagna suffered his second broken leg in May, the gap between the two north London clubs had narrowed considerably.
Arsenal’s stalemate with Norwich had presented an opportunity to Spurs, who could climb above their north London rivals into third spot with a win at Aston Villa. Yet Harry Redknapp’s team could only manage a draw at Villa Park and wins for both clubs on the final day of the season resulted in Arsenal claiming third and Spurs finishing just behind them in fourth.
Under normal circumstances, that would have guaranteed Champions League qualification for both teams. Nevertheless, sixth-placed Chelsea triumphed in the Champions League final in Munich to steal Spurs’ berth based on the rules at the time and ensure Arsenal could enjoy some sweet revenge after their October nightmare.
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