Sagna: Arsenal made me see a psychologist

Bacary Sagna last night revealed how Arsenal sent him to a psychologist to cope with the death of his brother.

The French international was left devastated after older brother Omar was found dead in his bath following a seizure two years ago.

Sagna, 27, said he still feels the pain today - and admitted it took medical assistance to help him pull him through.

The right-back, a £7m Gunners buy from Auxerre in 2007, also said he owes his signature gold braids to a bet with his father when he was seven.

And Sagna, who is due to win his 17th cap against Spain tonight, declared his aim to help restore France's tarnished image following Thierry Henry's handball assist - that took them to the World Cup finals at Ireland's expense.

"I still think about Omar ever day," Sagna said.  "Things are getting better with the passage of time.

"But it has been very tough for me, particularly as I was coming in for increasing criticism at the time.

"I felt lost. It was eating me up inside, without me even realising.

"One day Arsenal's psychologist came to see me.  He told me: 'Something is not right with you.  You have a blank look on your face.'

"I opened my heart to him about my troubles, and it was an enormous help to me.

"The critics have always been harsh with me.  I am a defender above all, and my job is to block off the opposing wingers.

"But ever since I started playing people have wanted to bring out my attacking side.  Even when my defending has been faultless I've been the butt of criticism, and I can't understand why.

"I've been wearing my blond locks for 20 years, ever since I had a bet with my dad.  At that time I played as a striker, and he told me I could have them done if I scored twice in a game.

"I duly got a double, and I've never got rid of the locks since then.  It's a bit painful when I go to the hairdresser's - but you need to suffer if you want to look good!   "Every time I pull on the blue shirt of France I have tears in my eyes.  It is a magical feeling, and an opportunity that few people get.

"My father arrived in France in the Seventies after winning a competition in Senegal.  Life was tough for him, and my mother had to wait four years before joining him.

"The France team now owes a big apology to its fans.  We know we were second best against the Republic of Ireland.

"We now have to show people a different face of the France team, and playing against Spain will be the ideal opportunity.

"I returned to London after the Ireland game, and followed the controversy about Thierry from the outside.  We, the players, ought to have defended him, but nobody asked our opinion.

"I was surprised at all the hype, and the politicians putting in their opinions.

"Things went too far.  That handball could have happened to anyone."