POSTED: Saturday July 30th 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Abou Diaby's latest injury proves that Arsenal should have sold him long ago

Arsenal's French Midfielder Is On The Treatment Table Again As Questions About His Long Term Future Mount

Arsenal FC are now nearing the new season. Unfortunately for the Gunners, a predictable scenario has reared its ugly head again. The sad tale of Abou Diaby is one that follows that of many a player in the long line of sports professionals whose promising careers have succumbed to injury.

Arsenal supposedly had received serious interest in Diaby from an unnamed Turkish club back in June. This enquiry came at a time when Wenger had publicly conceded that height in his squad was an issue. Selling Diaby (6'2") at that time would've contradict the managers' sentiments too overtly for any serious consideration to be given to his release. Now though, in hindsight I bet Wenger would have snaffled up £10m for an unreliable player once who once again finds himself on the treatment table.

A certain amount of sympathy must be felt for Diaby, who signed for Arsenal from Auxerre in 2006 in a deal worth around £2m, as he soon got a horror injury which has contributed to his stagnant progress at the club. At the end of his first season with the Gunners, Diaby was the subject of a disgraceful tackle by Sunderland's Dan Smith. The challenge left him with a severely fractured ankle that would keep him out of the team for the next eight months. His current injury is also to his ankle which would suggest that 'that' tackle five years ago is still seriously affecting his career.

Despite his bad luck, Diaby's displays even when fully fit often lack energy and intensity. He has a frustrating tendency to dwell on the ball too long and lose possession. On a positive note he has fabulous skill for a big man and has scored important goals, like in the Champions League versus Liverpool at Anfield in 2008. Diaby can also be used wide as he often was in a 4-4-2 formation. Annoyingly though, his height, which is seemingly an advantage to the team, is really not a strength he uses well. Either his aerial ability, his determination to win the ball, or both, are questionable. A prime example was his bullet headed own goal against Manchester United 2009, which ultimately turned a game that Arsenal should have won into a defeat.

The question is, how much longer is Wenger willing to wait for incessant injuries to cease in order to see if this much celebrated talent can finally shine? Selling is out of the question this summer as his most recent injury will surely put-off any suitors. Should Wenger look to offload Diaby at the next possible opportunity though?

Good luck to Arsenal this weekend against Boca Juniors and New York Red bulls in the Emirates Cup!

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Keywords · arsenal · gunners · football · soccer · sport · abou diaby · boca juniors · emirates cup

Name: J A Kinchin-taylor
Organization: Arsenal Aether
Email:
URL: www.arsenalaether.com

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