When the strong box-to-box presence of Abou Diaby burst onto the scene a decade ago, the French midfielder was quickly dubbed the new Patrick Vieira. The Gunners were naturally very excited about this skilled, energetic prodigy, but unfortunately, by the time he departed this summer, Diaby had become somewhat of a laughing stock. Theres no doubt that Diaby can play. His performances between 2008 and 2010 attest to that, as do 16 international appearances for Les Bleus. However, injuries quickly got the better of the former Gunners midfielder, restricting him to just 32 Premier League appearances during the second half of his 10-year stay at Arsenal. Wengers patience finally ran out this summer as a new deal wasnt offered. Diaby didnt provide anything like the results youd expect from a decade of service. In his defence, bad luck with injuries was the cause. If he can rediscover his fitness, the midfielder could be a great addition to any side, but the real question is whether anyone is willing to take the risk. After the last five years, it would be hard to justify.
