Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo believes that he can enjoy successful debut season in the Premier League by working on his physical strength as he looks to force his way into the first team plans of Arsene Wenger.
The French Under-21 international joined the Gunners on a free transfer from Auxerre at the end of last season and has featured twice for Arsene Wegner’s side this term.
Sanogo understands he still has a lot of work to do to become an integral part of the Arsenal side and says he takes heart from the number of success stories who have previously taken his path from Ligue 1 to north London.
Speaking to Arsenal official website, he said:
I’ve got used to my team-mates really well. I’ve had time with and spoken to people like Bacary Sagna who’s from Auxerre too and this has really helped me to settle in. I’ve felt really well ever since I got here.
It gives me confidence [to see Sagna and Abou Diaby], they’ve taken the same path [from Auxerre], got into the team and they’ve done really well here so I’d like and hope to emulate what they’ve done.
But I will need time, it’s a new way of life, a new league and it will take time to adapt. It’s something I will manage.
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I think I’ll have to toughen up and improve my strength, that’s part and parcel of such an intense league as the Premier League, as well as getting used to the step up, which it is from the French league.
After making his debut against Galatasaray in the Emirates Cup, he featured against Fulham in the Premier League but he admits that there is still plenty of hard work to be done before he can be considered a regular starter. He added:
It [my debut] was a great experience. I didn’t think I’d be playing as I’d only got here on the Monday and hadn’t really trained with the lads. To be thrown in straight away was really good for me. It would have been good to get off the mark and score straight away.
Against Fulham it was different, it was the Premier League, a really tough league, physically. But it was good to get a good result and play my part. I got a lot of the ball and so it was a good experience.
My main aims are to come here and learn, progress in the game and learn my trade with such great players. Now I’m training with them, I’ll gradually make progress.
Sanogo scored nine goals in 11 appearances for Auxerre during the second half of last season but was out of action for nearly 18 months prior to that, with a long-term knee injury. He helped the French under-20 side win the World Cup this summer in Turkey, scoring four goals in seven matches and playing a big part in the victory.
The Frenchman posses a raw ability with great physical stature and strength, he also has speed and electrifying pace like Henry, which can destroy the opposition defense in no time. He is blessed with a good first touch and can hold up the ball with his back to goal to bring his team-mates in to play. He can maraud past defenders and finishing confidently.
He has all elements to become an exciting center forward and being young, has the time to improve more and more to excel in the ever tough English Premier League. Injuries have been the only thing restricting Sanogo from breaking out.
It will take some time for the young striker to settle in, however with the amount of playing time Wenger has given him so far this season and the fact that we are short of strikers, I think Sanogo could feature quite a lot this season. The Frenchman should also increase his physical strength if he wants to make his mark in England.
What do you say Gunners?
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