Arsenal up for Bridge battle - Sagna

29 September 2010 11:37
Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has turned his focus to Sunday's Premier League clash at Chelsea after the Gunners passed a "test" in Belgrade.[LNB] Sagna believes Arsenal came through a real test of character with a 3-1 victory over 10-man Partizan in Serbia - but knows a tougher challenge awaits at Stamford Bridge.[LNB]Gunners boss Arsene Wenger made half-a-dozen changes from the team which had suffered a shock 3-2 home defeat by West Brom last weekend, ending their unbeaten start to the domestic season.[LNB]However, after the players had to change in the dark following a power failure before weathering an early onslaught from Partizan, who were spurred on by a ferocious support, Arsenal snatched the lead through Andrey Arshavin, but then wasted several chances before Cleo levelled from the spot.[LNB]The Gunners regrouped for the second half and eventually their pressure told when Partizan defender Marko Jovanovic was sent off for hauling down Marouane Chamakh.[LNB]Although Arshavin missed the resulting penalty, headed goals from Chamakh and Sebastien Squillaci, his first since arriving from Sevilla, gave the visitors a two-goal lead, which was preserved when stand-in keeper Lukasz Fabianski - deputising for the injured Manuel Almunia - saved a late penalty as Arsenal recorded a first European away win in more than a year.[LNB]Captain Cesc Fabregas and centre-half Thomas Vermaelen could return for Sunday's trip to the Premier League leaders where Sagna knows Arsenal's title credentials will again be under the spotlight.[LNB]"We had to win against Partizan because we did not play well at the weekend, conceding three goals," the France full-back said.[LNB]"Every game is a test because the season is long, where you have to play match after match.[LNB]"Now we need to stay focused and look forward to the next game, and we have to make something at Chelsea. We have to play our football.[LNB]"We know we have the quality to beat them.[LNB]"It will be an open game, but it will be about us, not them."[LNB]After one of the floodlights failed following a series of power cuts in the main stand, there was some doubt whether the match would actually go ahead before the referee got agreement from both sides.[LNB]Sagna revealed the Arsenal players saw the funny side of things, but got serious as soon as they went on to the pitch.[LNB]"The lights went off, so we had to use the lights from the phones to get ready," he said.[LNB]"It was quite funny, but we stayed focused and came on the pitch to get the win."

Source: Team_Talk