I haven’t exactly been the biggest fan of Arsenal’s Abou Diaby over the years. Amongst the Arsenal community there are very few fans who are happy to see his name on the team-sheet. His stock has never fallen lower than it did last season when he got sent off during Arsenal’s clash against Newcastle. His red card triggered a collapse and Arsenal ended up drawing the game 4-4.
But it’s not just his temperament that has seen him fall into disregard amongst fans. His lackadaisical approach to games, his lazy strides across the pitch and the general feeling that he just doesn’t give a damn, have all contributed to the position he currently finds himself in.
Yet I can’t help but feel that Arsenal need Diaby more than ever. It’s been a criticism regularly levelled at Arsenal of late that the players occupying their midfield are too similar. Take the Gunner’s attacking midfield: both Arteta and Ramsey can pass the ball well, but neither player is all that ‘direct’. They are both the kind of player that wait for movement about the rest of the squad and then attempt to move the ball on, yet they don’t provide too much movement or forward motion themselves.
We all know Arsenal can pass the ball, but wouldn’t it be handy to have a player in the midfield who can do a little more than this?
Diaby can offer the Gunners direct running, an ability to get past players and a will to break into the box when the opportunity arises. I think fans have been disappointed with Diaby in the past because he has been given too much defensive responsibility. His size has fooled people into thinking he should be utilised as a defensive midfielder. But that just isn’t the case.
Diaby always looks best when he’s moving forward.
I personally think Arsenal would benefit if they let Arteta play a little further back in the midfield, with Diaby deployed just behind the striker. It’s in this position that his movement will cause the most damage to opposition teams.
Various sources report that Diaby should be fit after the International Break. Whether Wenger will see fit to slot him back into the team remains to be seen.
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gunas need diaby more than any player,now.gunas ned plays wit confidence that can hold ball and he can do it.
A player in the style of Diaby would be very useful to Arsenal at the moment. Unfortunately the only thing Diaby has done consistently is get injured, perform badly/inconsistently. The flashes of brilliance he does show have been few and far between, and even though i would hope that he could be ‘that’ player i seriously doubt it will ever happen.
IMO time to move on to another player.
simply great player,yes some times he dnt work hard like he should do like VS barca and slows some times the tempo but he should come good when hes one of main man in middfield.come on diaby am 100% suer YES U CAN…
how about we play a striker up front with RVP off him, surely that would be a better option than having Diaby on the pitch
true, have park or arsharvin
One of the many players suffering from playing out of position. Will he get the opportunity? That remains to be seen. I have watched him play for France a few times and he seemed to do very well. Arsene buys a team of attacking midfielders and tries to make a team out of them lol. Some become right right backs and some, strikers. Thank God he hasn’t tried to turn one into a keeper as yet. On a different not, where is that Squilaci guy? I say stick him behind the striker, what’s the worst thing he could do? He can’t just sit at home taking money. And stick the Korean guy in for a good measure. Damn, what kind of a formation is that! Lol. It must be a nightmare being a manager. Seriously though I wish we could somebody in front of van persie.
Can agree that Diaby-like Rosicky and even Denilson has often been wasted-being played out of position in order to accommodate Fabregas. How can Diaby be blamed for some of the diabolical injuries he has received from thugs like Smith and Robinson ? that is unfair criticism-and I don’t blame him for the Newcastle sending off either-he has Never had enough protection from referees in England. He does have weaknesses in his game-like holding on to the ball too long-but every one of our midfielders has weaknesses-Ramsey’s ball retention, Song’s slow reactions, Arteta is not quick enough, Walcott is- well Walcott and plays like an amateur at times.
Diaby was man of the match in the last EPL away game we won-against Blackpool-and as long as we don’t over play him-he could be massive for us behind RVP.
I don’t think the team need the lazy player like him even the team has the problem but the tactic Aw should bring to the team will resolve the problem . Today the team need the regular wins to bring the team’s confident that AW should throw his ego first for his beloved team to play for win only because his team has quality enough to win but not quality enough to play as his affair this time but this team same can play as his affair and imagine if this team has a lot of regular wins and confident.
The advice Arsene gets from fans! It’s like he got into management last night with absulutelt no knowledge of football. It makes me wonder who turned viera, Henry. Lungberg. Lauren….into the invincibles. Yes Arsene is not God but the guy is the one I trust to turn things around. The team needs time to gel. The invincibles Plaued together for a few years together before going on that run. Let’s support the team and stop all the negativity.
I hope Diaby gets that position of an attacking midfielder he seems to hunger for so much. The guy is simply not a defensive midfielder, his instincts are to attack.
Wake up man, how many years ago was that? He develops them and sells them. What good does that do to the team?
Well Octopus-faith does not win football matches- results and performances do- and Wenger has won things but not for the past 6 years- and he has also taken us where we are now – 2 places off relegation positions. Fans like you will not realise what has happened until well after it has happened- the rest of us can’t wait until we are relegated before we get rid of this mad French idealist.
hell no
You can fuck right off with that, we absolutely do not need that fucking insult to football anywhere near our first team.