One of Arsenal’s most major issues this season has been a lack of balance in midfield.
It feels weird to critique a midfield that contains the likes of Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and Mikel Arteta. Each one of them has bucket-loads of technical ability. They can pluck the ball out of the sky with ease, knock it past a player, create space for themselves and pick out a killer pass.
They are all players with drive, who have the desire to win. So why is it then that Arsenal have been on the losing side so often this season? Why is it that Santi and Jack were unable to overturn a League Two side, in Bradford City?
Something’s wrong – there’s clearly something missing from Arsenal’s midfield.
Step forward Abou Diaby, the man who lead Arsenal to a 2-0 victory over Liverpool, their best performance of the season so far. The perennially injured Frenchman represents the kind of physicality, directness and grace that Arsenal have lacked on the ball over the last couple of months.
Diaby himself is a strange mix of poise, style and power. He runs with the ball through the midfield like Yaya Toure. He can knock it past opposition midfielders like Hatem Ben Arfa. Most importantly, he’s an imposing figure.
Santi Cazorla and Mikel Arteta aren’t the kind of players who stamp their authority onto other teams. And for all his tenacity, Jack Wilshere has a rather slight frame and can’t really compete physically with some of the Premier League’s big hitters. This isn’t the case with Abou Diaby.
So it’s bad news all round then, that when asked about Diaby’s fitness, Wenger told the Press: “I cannot give you any fixed date because we are a bit in no man’s land on that front. He is working, but we are waiting for him to come back. He is not ready.” (Source: London 24)
As sad as it is, Arsenal need him now more than ever. Many have given up on Abou Diaby. After all, this is a man who has only played 33 games in the last 3 seasons. But players like this can come good – just look at Robin Van Persie.
Arsenal fans just have to keep the faith and hope that he returns sooner rather than later.
What’s your take? Just how important is Abou Diaby for Arsenal?
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If there is number thing arsenal are missing, is Abou Diaby. We lack that leadership in arsenal FC. We have waited this long and have already out of patience. We need somebody to step in.