10 Arsenal Players Who Weren't Worth The Hassle
5. Lassana Diarra
Patience is a virtue. Some players need it to survive at big clubs. In the space of six months, French midfielder Lassana Diarra went through two of the Premier Leagues elite clubs in Chelsea and Arsenal, before winding up at Portsmouth. That tells one all they need to know about Diarras refusal to bide his time.
Having managed to lure him from cross-city rivals Chelsea in the summer of 2007, the 22 year old midfielder was seen as Gilberto Silvas natural successor. However, the multi-functional dynamo soon found game-time hard to come by, such was anchoring midfielder Mathieu Flaminis continued excellence in the middle of the park.
''When I signed for Arsenal, I was made promises by the people who recruited me. But since the start of the season, the only matches Ive been involved in have been low-key, and to be honest Im getting fed up with it. I signed for Arsenal because I was led to believe I was going to be playing, and there would be healthy competition for the spot. That hasnt been the case. Lassano Diarra, December 2007.
Unamused by Diarras public strop, Wenger subsequently shipped him out the door in the next transfer window, with Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp swooping for his signature in a £5.5 million deal.
''Wenger just taught me to doubt everything. He never addressed me until I told him I was going. He talked to others, but not me. I feel like I never played for Arsenal. If people do not remind of them, I forget about them. Its erased from my memory. Lassano Diarra, April 2009.
Dont worry, Lass. For most Arsenal supporters, they will have forgotten all about his seven substandard appearances as well.