Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 10y

Yaya Sanogo confident he will deliver for Arsenal

Yaya Sanogo has told L'Equipe that he has had teething problems in adjusting to the Premier League but is convinced he will score goals for Arsenal.

- McNicholas: Will injection of pace help Arsenal to title?
- Cox: Why Welbeck divides opinion

Sanogo, who was sidelined for two years by a complicated leg fracture suffered in 2010, has failed to find the net in 16 competitive outings for the Gunners since arriving from Auxerre just over a year ago.

He said: "I needed six months to adapt. I've had quite a lot of problems. I arrived on one leg. It's been difficult to adapt to the league. There's a lack of confidence, perhaps a bit of pressure too. You're 21 and you play up front for Arsenal -- it's not easy."

But Sanogo has continued to find the net at under-21 level for France, scoring twice in last week's Euro 2015 qualifying win over Kazakhstan, and is set to spearhead Les Bleuets again in Monday's home encounter with Iceland.

Those goals have helped keep his confidence up, and he insisted new Arsenal signing Danny Welbeck would not get an easy path to the first team.

"He's going to have to battle for his place in the side," he said. "Last season, I didn't doubt myself. I was more afraid of getting injured. If the coach brought me in, it's because he has faith in me.

"I've become more solid. The defenders can be quite nasty. When you have come out of Ligue 2 and you know that you're going to come up against [Vincent] Kompany, it's quite a thing. But I've gained in experience."

He added: "It's a big club. The fans know that I've scored a lot of goals at youth level, and they're putting me under a little bit of pressure. Once I've scored my first goal, everything will be fine. It's their problem if they criticise me. I'll still be here. I'm going to play, improve and score goals. Sooner or later, it's going to go in."

^ Back to Top ^