The future of Abou Diaby’s professional career is hanging in the balance, as he is without a contract at the end of the season.
He was once regarded as the next Patrick Vieira when he joined Arsenal from Auxerre several years ago. Several injury problems, though, limited him to only a handful of appearances in the last few years. Even this season, he has featured in only one match and it came in the Capital One Cup against Southampton. He has come close to full fitness on several occasions, but only to suffer a new injury setback.
Arsene Wenger has given his backing to the 28-year-old, who may still get back to playing football at the top level, by saying that he still has the confidence. Wenger has recalled that Diaby’s career has just been ravaged by injuries that started with a bad tackle a few years ago. Even though he is out of contract at the end of the campaign, Wenger is confident that Diaby will be showing in a fitness in the next few months to convince him that a new contract can be given. Diaby has spoken on several occasions about his recurring injury problems. He says that he has thought about an early retirement on several occasions.
“Diaby hasn’t a mental problem but a problem of injury. He is a player for whom I have great respect. Whenever he returns, he is injured and he goes from zero. He was destroyed by a bad tackle.The football player needs mobility of his ankle. When your ankle mobility is restricted, you compensate with something else. He suffered from a very bad tackle in Sunderland six or seven years ago. He was the victim of an assassin’s tackle that was never punished. It has restricted the mobility of his ankle,” said Wenger.