Arsenal have had some excellent defenders over the years, and some are still underappreciated to this day.

Whilst Mikel Arteta’s current side recorded Arsenal’s best-ever Premier League defensive record, this does not mean that the club were totally bereft of quality at the back under Arsene Wenger.

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker is regarded by many to be the best right-back the Premier League has seen, but the 34-year-old’s struggles at Euro 2024 have harmed England’s attacking players including Bukayo Saka.

As good as Walker has been over the years, there was one Arsenal icon who was arguably even better on his best day.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny once claimed that one of his old teammates, Bacary Sagna, was even better than Walker, or anyone else, when at his best.

Wojciech Szczesny once named Bacary Sagna as the best right-back in the Premier League

Speaking in an interview with Polish outlet Foot Truck back in 2019, Szczesny claimed that Sagna was better than anyone in the Premier League at his best.

“In my opinion, Bac, at his peak was the best right-back in the Premier League,” he stated.

“When the game wasn’t going well for us, I’d just pass long balls to him on the halfway line. We used to train for this and 98 times out of 100 he’d win the ball.”

Sagna enjoyed a long spell at Arsenal before he joined Manchester City in 2014, during which point Walker was at Tottenham Hotspur.

Walker since moved to City to replace Sagna, and whilst he lasted longer at the Etihad, a case can be made that Sagna was the better overall footballer than Walker when at his best.

Bacary Sagna compared to Kyle Walker

Sagna made 267 Premier League appearances over the years for Arsenal and Man City, compared to Walker’s 395, but when comparing their peaks, their abilities matter more than their longevity.

Sagna thrived because of his strength, and his crossing ability in later years. He was tough to beat on the wings, and added a stronger edge to some soft back lines under Wenger.

Walker adds sheer pace which is unmatched by any other fullback, but this speed helps dig him out of difficult situations.

His performances with England have shown that at 34, he is no longer at his peak, but even at his best, some would argue that Sagna’s ability on the ball was better than the Englishman’s, but Walker’s speed made him the better overall option.

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