Diaby's fresh setback spells end of time at Arsenal

It is a great shame that a player of Abou Diaby's talent and ability has been affected by so many injuries throughout his young career.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger clearly has a soft spot for the Frenchman but even Wenger must know deep down that this new inury setback for the midfielder signals the end of his time at the club.

Diaby tore ligaments in his knee during a training session that will see him sidelined for nine months meaning he won't play again in 2013. You have to feel for the man as numerous injuries have seen him start just 96 league games since 2006.

The news is compounded by the fact that the beginning of the season there were high hopes for Diaby as he entered the new season fit and ready. A man of the match performance against Liverpool once again displayed his talents but the familiar injury niggles meant he once again missed out a large period of the season.

When he returned from injury at the turn of the year he didn't look completely fit and there is certainly a feeling of cruel inevitability about Diaby's latest setback.

It must be clear to Wenger that Diaby can no longer be relied upon and too many setbacks mean Arsenal must part ways with the Frenchman.

The beginning of Diaby's woes can be pinpointed to 2006 when Sunderland's Dan Smith broke his ankle with a shocking tackle. Since then Diaby has never fully recovered and there are dark reminders of the FA's reluctance to eliminate dangerous play with their lack of action following Callum McManaman's tackle recently.

But that is a debate for another day.

It is a real disappointment for Arsenal fans that they never got to see the best of Diaby for a sustained amount of time and unfortunately his time at the club has come to an end.

Follow @JerryvanWav

Comments

[Dominic]

It's not just the FA's reluctance to clamp down on dangerous play, it's the old lags safely ensconced in front of the TV cameras. When someone (i.e. Eduardo) nearly has their foot taken of they immediately jump in with their old cries of, "there was nothing malicious in it," and the all time classic, "it's a man's game".