Sagna breaks bone in leg, out three months

A bad day for Arsenal has turned even worse, as the club announces that stalwart right-back Bacary Sagna has suffered a fractured fibula, which will put him out of service for around three months. Sagna suffered the injury late in today's loss against Tottenham Hotspur, while landing awkwardly after colliding with Benoit Assou-Ekotto while challenging for a ball in the air.

According to the club Sagna will undergo further evaluation on Monday, and will see ankle specialists and the Arsenal medical team (!) to determine a course of action for treatment of the injury. The injury may end up requiring surgery.

This is obviously terrible news for the club. Sagna, while he often doesn't get much credit from neutral observers, is one of the top fullbacks in the league in my opinion. One way or the other, there's no disputing that he's one of the anchors in our defense and, with Thomas Vermaelen also out, this is a particularly bad time to be missing him. Carl Jenkinson will have a job to do to replace Sagna until he's fit; also, Francis Coquelin (one of few bright spots in the Arsenal squad today) has some experience at right-back and may be given some opportunities there.

Either way this deals a big blow to Arsenal's hopes of finishing in the top four. Sagna is integral to a defense that honestly hasn't been that strong (or at least consistent) to begin with, and without him it will only get weaker. Let the candlelight vigil begin.