The Situation
Abou Diaby, the lanky French midfielder, joined Arsenal in 2006, with bundles of potential and was considered by many to be the gem in Arsene Wenger’s emerging youth team. However, just a mere two months into his contract at the club, he suffered an injury that kept him out for a month. This was swiftly followed by a severe ankle fracture which kept him out for over eight months. Diaby was also told by doctors before the three surgeries were undertaken that it could be career-threatening.
Fast-forward a few months, and Diaby was again back in the treatment room, this time for a thigh injury, which returned several times and eventually ruled him out until the following season, where it relapsed once more. To make things clear, the 2010-11 season was his first where he started injury free since 2007.
Before everyone slips into an injury-induced slumber, I will stop there. The short story, whittled down from a very long one, is: injury, great potential, injury, injury, good couple of games, injury, injury, injury, and so on…
The Decision
Wenger clearly has some sort of faith in the player. As many say, he provides depth and a good option to use, when not on the treatment table. However, how has he survived eight seasons at a club that is so stingy with wages?
The Arsenal board has had the opportunity to offer mutual termination or even pay off the contract, but they have instead pursued with the injury-plagued maestro and Wenger insists he still has a part to play at the club. In the whirlwind of new contracts that have been signed in the past 12 months, it is easy to forget that Diaby may still be receiving one. It seems unlikely, but could technically happen, with about 16 months left on his current one.
No one can really say if he would have accepted a mutual departure, with some sort of pay off, but it would have been an avenue to explore a couple of years ago.
The Verdict
The boy who has been described as a modern game Patrick Vieira and a player who could become Arsenal’s new midfield general has now become a man. And with this man? Not much. Injury, interrupted by man of the match performances and magical displays, is just not enough.
The fact that, if he does not get given a new contract, he will end his time with Arsenal in 2015 (a whole nine and a half years after joining) is absolutely absurd. Our very own Hugo disagrees with this, saying he provides depth, but myself and Mike believe Abou Diaby does not even offer this. The real shame is that his talent makes this injury curse a huge loss.
It is understandable to see why a contract extension was offered to him after a freak horror-injury and the odd niggle here and there, but for him to have been paid weekly whilst he just gets to know the physiotherapy room is hard to justify.
However, Abou Diaby is set to return to full fitness within a week or so. What this means is anyone’s guess. Full fitness could be a week, it could be five years. Watch this space…
Your Verdict
We regularly pose the same question to our @AFCModiOperandi followers and include some replies in our articles – if you are interested in having your comments in our articles, follow our account and reply to our questions marked with #AFCMO. We would like to know what you think about Diaby and his ‘role’ in the team.
@sirkeyur – “he shouldn’t have been here 4 years back. But being French guarantees a job with Arsene.”
@darrigooner – “I’m hoping he could still make a big impact this season, could come back just at the right time”
@liam343 – “That’s so tough, it’s not his fault he’s injured so often and I’d like to see him return yet, fit.”
@pelza – “who’s this diaby you speak off”
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow Modus Operandi on Twitter @AFCModiOperandi, @LastwordMKovacs, @LastWordOnHugo and @PitchsidePie. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Interested in writing for LWOS? We are looking for enthusiastic, talented writers to join our Footy writing team. Visit our “Write for Us” page for very easy details in how you can get started today!
Feel free to discuss this and other footy related articles with thousands of fans at r/football.
