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“He Is Fit And Ready To Play” – Wenger Confirms Shock Comeback

By on April 22, 2014

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Abou Diaby is ready to make a return to the pitch and could play for the first team this season.

Diaby hasn’t featured for the club since starting against Swansea City back in mid-March 2013 after picking up a serious knee injury in training, and some thought that not only would he never play for Arsenal again, but it could spell the end of his injury-plagued career.

However, the 27-year-old has been working hard on his recovery including spending time in the French Alps and he returned to full training two weeks ago where he’s continued to work on his fitness.

It now looks like he could be in-line to make a shock return to the first team before the end of the season with Arsene telling the clubs website this afternoon that Diaby is ‘fit and ready’ and could play for the Under-21’s against Chelsea tonight.

If all goes to plan at the Emirates later, then the Frenchman could be considered for the first team before the end of the season. Speaking to Arsenal.com, Wenger said:

“He [Diaby] is back in full training now and available to play,”

“He might play a part of the game for the under-21s.

“Yes of course [he could play for the first team this season], it depends how well he comes out of the game. He hasn’t played for a year but physically he is ready to play, completely. It is now just decision-making, getting used to challenges again. He needs a game.

“Everybody [counted him out] but he is fit and ready.”

It would certainly be a miraculous recovery from the midfielder as his career looked dead and buried not that long ago, and to have come back time and again from serious injury is testament to his character.

However, it would still be a big risk from Arsene to play him in the first team. Diaby is no doubt going to be well short of match fitness and a run out for the under-21’s isn’t going to solve that. We have four huge games to come this season so we don’t have room to take risks on bringing Diaby back in too soon.

Hopefully the player will get a bit of luck and stay injury-free, but I’d still be surprised, and nervous, if we saw him in the first team again this season.

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