Should Arsenal rest Diaby and The Ox?

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Bob

I know that Abou Diaby and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been two of Arsenal’s best players so far this season, but that is one of the reasons why they should possibly be left out of the starting eleven on Saturday.

Arsene Wenger has said that Diaby is still feeling the pain in his Sartorius muscle around his hip that forced him to miss France’s second World Cup qualifier last night against Belarus. Wenger also said that it didn’t seem like much and that he may be able to play on Saturday against Southampton. The reason he missed the France game in the first place is that the French manager Didier Deschamps played Diaby for the whole 90 minutes when he knew he had taken a knock.

What is more important, a home game against Southampton or the next three games? Arsenal travel to Montpellier next Tuesday then go to the Etihad to play Man City next Tuesday, before hosting Chelsea the following Friday. We have a home tie against Coventry on the Capital One Cup as well but that will probably be reserves.

My point is, why risk Diaby when there are some massive games on the horizon? He is probably dying to play as much as possible after all the football he has missed over the years, but just because you love Big Macs doesn’t mean you should eat them every day, it’s probably not good for you. Arsenal have enough quality in midfield to cover for the absence of Diaby against Southampton, and he will be rested and fit for the next games.

The Ox, to me, looked tired for England against Ukraine. He is still only 19 but he is being loaded with expectation by Arsenal and England fans. He does cope with it well but I think a short rest would do wonders for him. His energy and strength are crucial to his game and we don’t want to blunt his edge. The problem is, dare we risk resting them both? Maybe resting Chamberlain against Montpellier would be the better option, especially if Walcott has recovered from his illness. What do you think Gooners?

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Category Arsenal, Arsenal Debate, Arsenal Injury News, Arsenal News, Arsenal opinion, Champions League News
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Wenger not worried about Diaby (non)-injury

Posted on September 12, 2012 by admin

When news broke that Abou Diaby picked up an injury whilst away on international duty, the entire Arsenal media team broke down into a frenzy. One thing everyone failed to notice was that the word ‘injured’ was never used and for good reason too-he’s not.

The player was left out of the French side for their second World Cup qualifier due to an issue which was described as muscular discomfort. Subsequently France looked boring without Abou Diaby despite a 3-1 victory against Belarus last night.

None the less, Wenger has confirmed that the problem is not serious though and that Abou Diaby may even play in the Premier League match against Southampton at the Emirates on Saturday.

The Arsenal boss was confident to play down any hysteria regarding the player and stated, ‘He has a little pain in the hip satorius. It does not seem serious at all. He even has a small chance to play Saturday.’ Arsenal supporters will find this news as shining light, given the impressive start, the French international has had for the club.

If Diaby is not declared fit to play against Southampton he will certainly be 100% by the time the following Premier League match rolls along. The French international has been plagued by injury, only playing four games last season and missing out on Euro 2012. Arsenal fans will be hoping for a full season worth of football from Diaby in what would be a turn around given his injury woes.

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Diaby: I’m not replacing Alex Song – I want to attack!

Posted on September 04, 2012 by admin

Diaby says he is Arsenal’s Yaya Toure not Alex Song by AM

Abou Diaby has hogged the limelight with his superlative performance against Liverpool. Following Alex Song’s departure to Barcelona, there were questions about who is going to take up the role vacated by him. Diaby says that Coquelin and Arteta are the ones who will step into Song’s shoes, while he will be Arsenal’s Yaya Toure. The Frenchman said – “In our teams, Yaya Toure and me have similar roles. I am not Alex Song. We have many players who can take his place like Francis Coquelin or Mikel Arteta, who likes to play deep. I want to get forward – that’s me.

“I have defensive duties as well so I need to have a good shape defensively and, as soon as we get the ball, go forward.

“I have to thank the manager because I have had tremendous support and as a player it is really important to have that support. Support from your team-mates as well – I have to say that during this period they helped a lot.”

Along with Diaby, Arteta was brilliant as well at Anfield. His positional sense was excellent and he covered for the full-backs really well.

Arteta’s defensive capabilities have provided Diaby the perfect platform to go on his adventurous and powerful forward runs. Diaby does have lot of resemblance to Toure in the way he plays. His lanky legs, easy dribbling and good upper body strength are similar to the Manchester City man. If Diaby can stay away from the medical room, he might finally come close to replacing the man he was predicted to replace many years ago – Patrick Viera.

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Diaby: I’m not replacing Alex Song – I want to attack!

Posted on September 04, 2012 by admin

Diaby says he is Arsenal’s Yaya Toure not Alex Song by AM

Abou Diaby has hogged the limelight with his superlative performance against Liverpool. Following Alex Song’s departure to Barcelona, there were questions about who is going to take up the role vacated by him. Diaby says that Coquelin and Arteta are the ones who will step into Song’s shoes, while he will be Arsenal’s Yaya Toure. The Frenchman said – “In our teams, Yaya Toure and me have similar roles. I am not Alex Song. We have many players who can take his place like Francis Coquelin or Mikel Arteta, who likes to play deep. I want to get forward – that’s me.

“I have defensive duties as well so I need to have a good shape defensively and, as soon as we get the ball, go forward.

“I have to thank the manager because I have had tremendous support and as a player it is really important to have that support. Support from your team-mates as well – I have to say that during this period they helped a lot.”

Along with Diaby, Arteta was brilliant as well at Anfield. His positional sense was excellent and he covered for the full-backs really well.

Arteta’s defensive capabilities have provided Diaby the perfect platform to go on his adventurous and powerful forward runs. Diaby does have lot of resemblance to Toure in the way he plays. His lanky legs, easy dribbling and good upper body strength are similar to the Manchester City man. If Diaby can stay away from the medical room, he might finally come close to replacing the man he was predicted to replace many years ago – Patrick Viera.

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Liverpool v Arsenal – Player Ratings – Diaby M-o-M!

Liverpool v Arsenal – Player Ratings by AM

Mannone – 6
He wasn’t disturbed in the first half, but didn’t look quite confident handling crosses and aerial balls. Made one good save from Shelvey, but spilled another from the same player and must be thankful to Vermaelen for being first to the rebound. The saves weren’t anything you wouldn’t expect a goalkeeper at this level to not deal with.

Gibbs – 6
He contributed more offensively, than defensively. He must be thankful that Podolski tracked back a lot and helped him out, because at a lot of time he was found out of position. But he pushed back Johnson with his forward runs. Needs to improve defensively though.

Mertesacker – 7
Made few important tackles, looked solid and was a main reason why Arsenal looked solid defensively while defending set pieces. Great in the air and good on the ground. With performances like this – he can keep out Koscielny from the team.

Vermaelen – 7
A captain’s performance from the Belgium international. Made some adventurous runs forward in the first half, but settled back in the 2nd half as Arsenal looked to defend the lead. Was first onto a loose ball when Mannone spilled a shot from Shelvey, that turned out to be crucial. Kept a tight leash on Suarez and kept him quite throughout the match. But worryingly for the Gunners, he was taken off in the 90th minute after moving gingerly, one certainly hopes that was just a precautionary measure and not something serious.

Jenkinson – 5
Had a tough time against Sterling out wide. The Liverpool man skipped past him on quite a few occasion, didn’t contribute too much going forward. Had a pretty average game.

Arteta – 8
Arteta had an excellent outing. His defensive side of the game has improved enormously. He covered for the fullbacks out wide, worked hard in front of the defense and his passing was tidy. A wonderful performance from the Spaniard.

Diaby – 9
Diaby is back, and how!! This was almost a Yaya Toure like performance from the Arsenal midfield. He brought something that the Arsenal midfield have been lacking for quite a while now. He was strong in the air, good with his passing and made some powerful runs forward. He has improved defensively as well. Gooners will hope Diaby can stay fit this season, and if he stays so, he will be a regular starter. Absolutely brilliant performance from the Frenchman.

Cazorla – 8
One assist and one goal later Santi Cazorla has further established his credential as on the best piece of business that Arsene Wenger has done for quite a while now. He set up Podolski with a wonder run and pass for the first goal and then scored his first goal for the Gunners. He brings a cutting edge to the Arsenal team, which wasn’t seen since Fabregas left. This was another masterpiece from Cazorla.

Podolski – 8
The German international has finally arrived in the scene. He scored his first league goal from a first counter attack and a clinical finish. Podolski brings lot of pace and directness to Arsenal while counter attacking. But perhaps most importantly, Podolski was brilliant while tracking back, infact at times it looked like he was the left back for the team. Very few forwards in the Arsenal team brings that defensive steel to the team.

Chamberlain – 5
Chamberlain was perhaps a surprise starter today ahead of Walcott and Gervinho. The ‘OX’ wasn’t as effective as he normally is and was substituted in the second half by Aaron Ramsey.

Giroud – 6
The only disappointment from this match was perhaps Giroud’s performance. He missed another clear chance in this match and except that, he was mostly ineffective. But to be fair to him, he is a striker who excels with good crosses from the wings, and he didn’t have much service from the wide areas. The Frenchman would hope that he finds his scoring boots pretty soon.

Substitutes –

Ramsey – 5
Came on in place of Chamberlain and made some decent runs from the midfield. His pace seemed to have increased a lot, atleast from previous seasons. Looks to be slowly coming back to his best now.

Santos – NA
He came on in place of Podolski and looked more like a move to give Podolski some cheers from the cowd.

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Abou Diaby – I am optimistic this season……as usual!

Posted on August 23, 2012 by admin

There are a lot of Arsenal fans that will have given up on Abou Diaby ever returning to his brilliant form from his younger days, but we could take heart from the fact that a certain Robin Van Persie was also injured for seven years in a row before he finally turned into a top-class goalscorer.

Admittedly Diaby has probably missed a lot more playing time than RVP and just 13 starts in the last two seasons isn’t going to give us much optimism for this year, but having come through the opening game unscathed (not to mention the pre-season) perhaps we could give the French international the benefit of the doubt.

Arsene Wenger must be convinced Diaby is back to his best as he has said that he is “like a new signing” and has hopes that he can get through a whole season without another setback, and the player himself says he is feeling pretty good himself, but admitted he feels like that every season!

“Every morning when I wake up I’m really happy to drive into the training ground, come what may,” said Diaby. “I feel very good. I’ve been fit for every training session so far and I’m really happy with how things have gone.

“I am optimistic, just as I am before every season.”

Certainly it will take him some time to get back to true match-fitness, but does anyone believe that maybe, just maybe, this could be the year that Abou Diaby finally proves his worth to Arsenal?

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Diaby is hungry and confident about Arsenal

Arsenal’s French international midfielder Abou Diaby has not had it easy in the last two years, but is desperate to put that behind him and drive Arsenal to glory this season. He is confident that he can form part of a devastating midfield for the Gunners this season.

Diaby is relishing the chance to play alongside Mikel Arteta, after injuries meant that he only appeared in four league games last season. The 26-year old was greatly impressed at Arteta’s contribution to the Arsenal midfield after his move from Everton, and believes that they will work well together. It remains to be seen how Arsene Wenger will line up the Arsenal midfield, but Diaby has his own ideas on that score.

“I personally prefer to play with three midfielders, because I can go forward and I can also defend. I think it is the position that suits me best.”

Diaby, Fabregas and Alex Song were fantastic as a midfield trio, but his last two seasons have been really frustrating as he could not seem to keep free from injury long enough to get his good form back. So far this summer he is looking good and will only improve with time and match play.

“The only thing we love is to play football, and seeing your team mates play every weekend while you are on the bench is quite hard…First of all it does affect you physically because you cannot play, and, I have to say, mentally as well because it is hard.”

Hopefully he can stay fit and take his opportunity to become an indispensable part of the Gunners next generation. Diaby,Song,Arteta, Ramsey and Wilshere in the middle, with Walcott, The Ox, Podolski and Cazorla marauding down the wing should make mincemeat out of most teams. I don’t think we really need Nuri Sahin, but it will only be a loan deal if he does come.

Come on you Gunners

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