Arsenal are lacking a top quality defensive midfielder and many believed the Gunners would dip in the market for one this summer.
With Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta lacking physical presence, Diaby offers the team an alternative solution. Wenger had previously seen Diaby as a more attack minded midfielder, but with his injuries in mind – Arsene has suggested he could be moved into a deeper role:
“I tried to develop [Diaby] in a deeper role, I think he can do it. He can be very interesting because he has all the attributes to do it. After, he must love it as well because he’s more of an offensive-minded player,” Wenger told reporters on Tuesday.
“I try to transform it, yes because I feel because he was injured for a long time and he has the physical potential to win the challenges, to face the game will be easier for him than to play with his back to goal with the injuries he had.”
Diaby was subbed after 60 minutes, but Arsene assured press he was not injured: “At some stage he has to play. He had 90 minutes at Villa last week. He played 60 minutes tonight. He was not bad, he was acceptable as a performance but he tired after an hour.”
I personally think Diaby could be very useful for Arsenal in a more defensive position. He completed 90 minutes in a reserve game last week and 60 minutes on Tuesday. Both unscathed. Let’s hope Abou can hold it together and he could become a really useful part of the Arsenal team.
He offers that physical presence which we really lack at the moment in the midfield. Despite an array of technical talent, Arsenal’s midfield lacks a bit of bite and strength. Diaby can change this.
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