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Arsenal haven’t been able to catch a break for the last couple of seasons, constantly being hampered by either injuries or savage transfer periods that seem to rip right through the core of the team.
Most recently, Van Persie epitomised both of these qualities – he saw injury for most of the 8 years that he was an Arsenal player and after his breakout season last year left to join the red half of Manchester.
Furthermore, compact and steadfast utility midfielder Alex Song saw his qualities sought after by Barcelona and I guess when the Catalan giants want a Gunner they don’t tend to stop – refer to Cesc.
Anyway, this is ancient history as they say for all Gunners who have renewed belief that they can genuinely challenge for the title this season, with the form of Thomas Vermaelen, Santi Carzola and Abou Dia… Wait. Not Diaby – his injury strewn past has caught up with him once again.
It was particularly exciting watching someone who featured as essentially a new signing for Arsenal at the beginning of the season.
Diaby was orchestrating the midfield and exuded the confidence and flair of a man who looked to have been reborn- not someone who had returned from a string of depressing injuries.
This fairytale seems to have come to an end for another short while after he was substituted after 17 impressive minutes against Chelsea last weekend due to a thigh injury.
In response, manager Arsene Wenger slammed the French Footballing Federation purporting they did not heed his warning regarding Diaby, playing him in an international friendly with a seeming lack of concern for his physical being.
Hopefully Colin Lewin can keep Diaby injury free for the rest of the season.
When speaking with Eurosport, Wenger was quoted as saying in regards to Diaby, “You have a breather, give him two weeks to recover completely. I think it was a mistake to play him with the French national team.
“It is really frustrating because once you think you get there an injury happens again.”
It has been confirmed that Diaby is in fact out for three weeks with this particular injury, not a large amount of time comparatively but significant nonetheless.
Hopefully the return of long time absentee Jack Wilshere is long and prosperous for Arsenal’s sake and that he doesn’t suffer a recurrence of the injury that’s kept him out for 14 months.
I am sure everyone can feel Wenger’s frustration which I believe he is well within his rights to feel. It is not the first time a manager has riled over the use of their players in international friendlies this season – City manager Roberto Mancini claimed that star Argentinian forward Carlos Tevez in fact lost form after traveling to compete with his national team.
But that’s a whole other issue.
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