Abou Diaby has come in for a fair amount of stick this season. There are occasions where he just doesn’t seem at the races. At the moment it’s unclear whether he has the talent or ability to make it at Arsenal and he certainly doesn’t appear to have the correct mentality. As a result he’s joined a list of Arsenal players that fans are keen to get rid of this summer. Alongside Diaby, the likes of Emmanuel Eboue, Denilson, Gael Clichy, Nicklas Bendtner are thought by many to be surplus to requirements at the Emirates.
Whilst I can understand the frustration of the fans, I wouldn’t necessarily advocate Arsenal moving Diaby on to another club. It’s his attitude that frustrates me most: too often can he be seen strolling casually around the centre of Arsenal’s midfield, carelessly letting the game pass him by and refusing to assert himself on the proceedings.
As a result he’s developed a reputation for not being able to score/shoot, not being a good passer and not being able to dominate the centre of the park. This just isn’t the case: we’ve seen on rare occasions that Diaby finds form, he has something to add Arsenal’s game.
Diaby’s job as a central-midfielder is to keep the ball, drive play forward, break up opposition play and make the odd foray into opposition territory. These are all things Diaby has done relatively well this season and whilst I grant that he’s no Cesc Fabregas, he’s a country mile better than Denilson. In fact, I’d argue that Diaby’s technique and ability to keep the ball under pressure is nigh on unrivalled at the club.
The trouble with Diaby strings from the fact that he’s almost always out injured. He’s rarely ever granted a run of games in the first-team and as a result Arsenal fans rarely ever get to see a fully-fit Diaby playing at the peak of his game. This is why words like ‘languid’ and ‘leggy’ are attributed to Diaby: not because of his mentality but because of his fitness issues.
When he does get an opportunity to play, he can often impress, despite a distinct lack of match fitness. In recent memory, I recall Diaby putting in decent performances against Blackpool (a very mobile, buccaneering performance), Tottenham and Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final. Before we call for his head, I’d like to see what Diaby can offer Arsenal if he can stay fit and get a run of games in the squad.
There must be a reason why Wenger has so much faith in Diaby and I for one would like him to hang around for at least another season in an attempt to see why this is.
Moreover, with a number of players set to leave the Emirates this season, Wenger wont want to initiate a sea change. Whilst Denilson’s Arsenal career is over, there’s a role for Diaby at the club as a squad player until he can prove himself worthy of something more.
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You have a point, Diaby was rated as one of the very best young French players before his injury. And he has at times shown match-winning performances.
The only real question mark about Abou Diaby is his fitness since the injury. I have no doubt of his ability.
There are a small number of players who should probably leave the club. I think Diaby deserves another season. Some fans want 8 players to leave, yet we are so close. We need to be more realistic.
He was rated highly when we bought him 5 years ago. Yes, he has had his fair share of injuries, but he really hasn’t moved onwards since he first arrived to my mind.
I also don’t see how or where he fits into the current midfield. He isn’t a Cesc so can’t play in that forward role, can’t tackle for toffee, can’t win a header, can’t pass the ball. I don’t even think he is that quick.
So where do we play him, and in who’s place?
I don’t think he’d play if Song/Ramsey/Cesc/Wilshere are fit, but given Arsenal’s propensity for picking up injuries, I’d definitely keep him around.
HE COST US THE LEAGUE TITLE.
NEWCASTLE 0 – 4 ARSENAL
DIABY ACTS THE FOOL GETS SENT OFF
FINISHES 4-4
LEAGUE TITLE OVER.
There must be a reason why Wenger has faith in Denilson, Bendter as well
Until this season I was still a believer in Denilson. I thought he had a set role, and he played it well – to be the player who made the triangles so that our quality players could get the ball with space.
Seeing Jack Wilshere go above him in the pecking order seems to have destroyed the players confidence, and he has not developed at all, if anything gone backwards.
Again, like Diaby (about whom i forgot to mention, can’t mark, and can’t track back), I can’t see where he fits in to the team any more, especially with the likes of Ramsay becoming available again.
Bendtner is another one that confuses me. His scoring ratio when he starts isn’t that unimpressive. And he scored a lot of important goals for us towards the end of last season. He just looks so lazy, and uncoordinated most of the time. He is not an impact player, so bringing him on any time after Wenger’s traditional 60th minute+ first substitution seems a waste of time.
As it is, we need something new, and if selling the likes of these fringe players gives us the money to buy that, then I’m for it.
I wasnt implying he should be in the starting 11, I think he is a useful squad member.
Some of our fans just assume we should sell half the squad, even though we were very close.
I dont agree with that at all.
Almunia and Eboue, yes, fair enough. Maybe Rosicky or Denilson. But not both.
The squad wont get better by reducing the numbers. The replacements need to be better than the players, otherwise we go backwards again.
Besides, with better concentration and harder work at pressing the ball, we would have won the title this year.
Id rather see multiple attitudes change rather than multiple players.
Too injury prone in my opinion, he’s either injured or off form. Though if we lose him we have to bring in someone who is an improvement.