It’s finally happening. Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo has confirmed that he will be leaving the club this summer!
The 24-year-old Frenchman joined the Gunners from Auxerre in 2013 but failed to establish himself at the club, making just 20 appearances and scoring one goal – this against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in November 2014.
Sanogo has spent most of his time being loaned out to other clubs, including Crystal Palace, Ajax, Jong Ajax and last season at Charlton, where he made a total of 28 outings and netting four goals.
The French forward spent seven months on the sidelines with a calf problem, but despite this, he has been linked with a possible move to Serie A, with Genoa believed to be interested in his services.
And Sanogo has made it clear that he is ‘free’ and will leave Arsenal during the summer transfer window.
Speaking to L’Equipe (via The Daily Mail), Sanogo said:
‘I’m free. The adventure ends.
‘My left calf is healed. It kept me off the pitch for nearly seven months. I came back in January, with a fitness trainer. I was able to play again for the Arsenal reserves. It was very hard when I was injured. You feel so mentally alone. There is virtually nobody at your side.
‘The injuries stunted my progress, there were moments where I was good. I remember the summer of 2014 when, during the Emirates Cup, I scored a quadruple against Benfica. And then there were some bad decisions, and I maybe did not always do what was necessary to impose myself.’
Sanogo will almost certainly go down as one of Arsene Wenger’s worst buys in recent years and although many will wish him the best in his future endeavours, he won’t be missed by the Arsenal faithful.
