Since May 2006 it’s been difficult to know what to make of Arsenal’s Abou Diaby. That was the month that a horrendous, unforgivable challenge by Sunderland’s Dan Smith almost put a premature end to the career of a promising young talent. He suffered a severe ankle fracture – a trauma his body never really seems to have fully recovered from. Sure, eight months of rehabilitation and three surgeries later he was back in contention for the first team, but he has really struggled with fitness and form ever since.
Whenever he has managed to put a few games together, he usually ends up aggravating an injury and back on the sidelines. One can’t help but feel that it’s all linked back to that day in May 2006, when Diaby was unfortunate enough to be on the end of a reckless challenge. The number of operations he was forced to undergo, the challenges he faced in overcoming an injury that many professional thought was a ‘career-ender’ have clearly taken their toll.
As a result, whenever he has got on the pitch his performances have been somewhat sporadic. He often goes from the ridiculous (I’m thinking of his sending off whilst Arsenal were 4-0 up against Newcastle last season) to the sublime and this inconsistency is something that he’d have a better chance of dropping from his game if he could stay fit and play more often.
A fit and ready Abou Diaby would be a real prospect. He’s good both defensively and offensively. He’s somehow gangly and athletic, tough and spritely – a mix of footballing contradictions, but when he’s on song he’s the real deal. He’s got a great first touch, can work space for himself and also skip past people with ease. I’d argue that he could do with adding more goals to his game, but surely that would come if he were given time.
Unfortunately his attempts at a comeback this season were ended fairly quickly. He lasted just 27 minutes against Liverpool before pulling his hamstring and has had to sit out the majority of Arsenal’s campaign. He did, however, play 60 minutes for the reserves on Tuesday night and grab a goal too.
I can’t help but wonder if he’ll follow in Robin Van Persie’s footsteps next season. All Arsenal fans rated RVP but were constantly frustrated by his inability to stay fit – until this season. But with a full seasons worth of games under his belt he has more than proven what he’s capable of to Arsenal fans. If Diaby can achieve a similar level of fitness I’m sure he could do the same.
What’s your take? Does Abou Diaby still have a future with Arsenal?
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“A mix of footballing contradictions” Yep, this is why he is my favorite player. He is in the same calibre as Kanu the “matrix” His hat-trick against Chelsea is on my perma mental record. I can see Diaby pulling off the odd unique special moment. That goal against villa on the wing with Eboue was spesh. After what he’s been through, he WILL give it some.