Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby is reported to be set for another spell on the sidelines. Will he ever stay fit?
A perfect comeback? Hardly.
Abou Diaby’s season is likely all over. Again.
The Mirror report he has suffered a thigh strain which will keep him out of the Gunners’ two remaining games against Norwich City and West Brom.
Before playing 18 minutes of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Stoke City this weekend, he had appeared in just three league games as a substitute, totaling 94 minutes of football.
Supporters must be asking if he is ever going to catch a break, although given his injury history perhaps that is the wrong phrase to use.
It has been the 25-year-old’s most miserable season to date, even last season he appeared in 16 Premier League games.
His time at Arsenal has been plagued by injury, dating back to the 2006 ankle fracture he sustained from a horrific tackle away at Sunderland.
It has prevented the midfielder from stepping up and fulfilling his potential, and fans must now wonder if he will ever make it.
Still, while this thigh strain is a setback, in the grand scheme of things it matters little. After long injury lay-offs, players often pick up slight muscle strains as they re-adjust to the intensity of playing competitive football at the top level once again.
If he can stay fit next season, then he has a chance of making it at Arsenal, but if is the operative word.
What he needs is regular football, but with Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Rosicky, Song, all in front of him, his chances will be limited next year, especially when you add in the returning Frimpong, and any new signings such as M’Vila.
His best bet might be to go out on loan. Get him somewhere where he has a chance of playing regularly, like a Wigan or a Norwich.
If he is going to get injured, he will get injured anywhere, but when he is fit, he may as well be at a club where he has a chance to play.
Roberto Martinez has done wonders with lesser players, and even if the Spaniard moves on next season, the Latics look to have survival sewn up and will strive to improve, as will Norwich, and Diaby would add to the squad of both clubs, if fit of course.
Hopefully Arsenal will get him through pre-season in one piece and can then assess how they plan to utilise him, but we see no benefit of having an injury prone player on the bench or in the stands.
The lack of regular football will only make him more susceptible to injury.
Send him on loan, and if he cuts it, impresses and can stay fit, bring him back to the Arsenal first team squad for the following year. Right now his career is back to square one, and he has to rebuild, and that needs to be done away from the Emirates.
If he can’t, then it surely has to be time up for the Frenchman.
Do you agree should Diaby be sent out on loan?
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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