His nine-year career at Arsenal has been an emotional and
physical roller coaster.
Often showing glimpses that he is the perfect mix of power and
guile his manager craves before spending weeks, or even years, in
the treatment room, Arsene Wenger now looks set to release this
French midfielder at the end of his contract in June. The ride is
coming to an end.
1554 days, 222 weeks, over four years out injured. The numbers
aren't as pretty as his playing style can be. This is the curious
case of Abou Vassiriki Diaby.
When Diaby arrived in the Premier League on January 13, 2006,
Arsenal beat off competition from Chelsea and Jose Mourinho to
sign the 19-year-old from Auxerre.
Comparisons were already drawn to club legend and former
captain Patrick Vieira because of his height, intensity and
technique on the ball.
'Diaby is a bit more offensive than Vieira but when he plays a
more defensive role he is very similar,' Wenger said.
He started off well, scoring his first goal for the Gunners in April
against Aston Villa, but his debut half-season in north London
ended in despair.
Diaby was the victim of an 'assassins tackle' from Sunderland
youngster Dan Smith - according to Wenger - his sickening
scream as he fractured his ankle at the Stadium of Light must still
be heard by the boss.
Put simply, the 28-year-old has never recovered.
Whether it be a calf muscle or a hamstring, an abdominal strain or
a cruciate ligament, Diaby's talent looks set to be wasted.
He has clocked up 42 injuries during his Arsenal career, according
to data from physioroom , averaging a new setback every 80 days.
The Gunners have played 350 league games since his arrival but
Diaby has featured in just 35 per cent of them.
Despite his struggles, his almost constant spell on the sidelines
hasn't been short of its positive moments. In early 2012 Diaby
came back into the Arsenal team to feature alongside Mikel Arteta
and Santi Cazorla and impressed, even scoring on his return to the
French national team.
Wenger heralded his fellow countryman as a holding midfielder
when he made his one and only performance this season, a slack
display against Southampton in a Capital One Cup defeat.
As recently as November, the Gunners' boss was insistent that
Diaby would be offered his new contract if he were to prove his
health.
'If he comes back, I will keep him. I always believed in him. In
football, the most important thing is health.'
But Diaby hasn't come close to featuring since, and given the
wealth of midfield options Wenger has available it is extremely
unlikely he will ever don the Arsenal shirt again, even if he were to
return to fitness.
He is the second longest-serving player at the club behind Theo
Walcott, and is a much-loved figure in the dressing room. His
emotional pull remains strong with the fans, who would love for
him to be the midfield destroyer and box-to-box runner he has
shown he can be.
But as the midfielder looks to get back to full strength once again,
wherever that may be, this quote by Vieira should not be forgotten.
'If he could have improved constantly, he would have reached an
exceptional level. About his potential, he is better than me, better
on a technical level, better dribbler, and better scorer too.' EVERY DIABY INJURY DURING HIS ARSENAL CAREER
2014
Calf Muscle Strain, November 24
Calf/Shin, October 14
Hip/Thigh, July 26
Groin/Pelvis, April 22
2013
ACL Knee, March 27
Calf/Shin, February 23
Illness, January 22
2012
Thigh Muscle Strain, September 29
Muscle, September 7
Calf Muscle Strain, April 28
Illness, April 23
Hamstring, March 29
Hamstring, March 3
2011
Hamstring, November 26
Ankle/Foot, July 22
Calf Muscle Strain, January 2
2010
Calf Muscle Strain, December 30
Ankle/Foot, October 19
Ankle/Foot, October 4
Ankle/Foot, September 13
Calf Muscle Strain, August 11
Calf Muscle Strain, March 27
MCL Knee Ligament, February 17
Calf Muscle Strain, January 20
2009
Calf Muscle Strain, November 7
Ankle/Foot, October 10
Groin Strain, August 12
Knee, July 27
Thigh Muscle Strain, April 1
Calf Muscle Strain, February 24
Thigh Muscle Strain, January 31
2008
Abdominal Strain, November 22
Thigh Muscle Strain, August 3
Thigh Muscle Strain, April 25
Calf Muscle Strain, March 7
Calf Muscle Strain, February 8
2007
Back, November 22
Sprained Ankle, August 14
Concussion, April 20
Sprained Ankle, February 25
Knee, February 2
2006
Ankle/Foot Injury, May 1
42 INJURIES (ONE EVERY 79.5 DAYS)
calf muscle 11 , ankle/foot 6 , thigh muscle 5, hamstring 3, sprained
ankle 2 , illness 2 , calf/shin 2 , knee 2, hip/thigh 1 , groin/pelvis 1 ,
acl knee 1 , muscle injury 1 , mcl knee ligament 1 , groin strain 1,
abdominal strain 1 , back injury 1, concussion 1 . His injury is as long as Messi s list of honours. Ironical right? |
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