Arsene Wenger has given some insight into the immediate futures of Abou Diaby and Ryo Miyaichi.
Speaking at his post-game press conference today, the manager was asked about Diaby, who hasn’t played since coming on as a 69th minute sub in the 1-1 draw against Fulham in late November. The French midfielder has only played 25 minutes of first team football this season and has been battling to save his career having suffered ongoing ankle problems.
“He is coming back on Tuesday,” said Wenger. “He has been in a rehab centre and has worked very hard. We feel that when he comes back he will need three more weeks of training, so the earliest he will play will be the end of February.”
Whether or not Diaby can remain fit remains to be seen. It’d be the most optimistic of Gooner who’d put any money on it, but with Jack Wilshere now set for a further spell out having another option in midfield would be no bad thing for the final part of the season.
Meanwhile, Ryo Miyaichi is set to go out on loan to aid his development, and with the transfer window closing on Tuesday night, a decision is imminent with the player set to stay in England.
“I will have a chat with him tomorrow and I have a little plan,” he said. “Oxlade-Chamberlain plays on the flanks now too, so if I can find an opportunity for him to play somewhere I will decide whether to do that tomorrow.
“It will have to be in England because he will lose the homegrown [status] if he leaves the country.”
The Japanese youngster has made two Carling Cup appearances so far this season but has yet to feature in the Premier League. A move on loan to a Premier League or Championship club would be designed to give him the playing time he needs to push for a first team place at Arsenal next season.
Hopefully Ryo will get some playing time in the Championship! He was great in Feyenoord.
Hes going on loan in the Premier League. Younggunsblog reckons its either Bolton or Fulham. Hopefully he comes back like Jack did
That would be great. Specially Bolton since he would probably get alot of playing time there.
Hard to believe 6 years will have passed this May since we’ve seen a fully fit Abou Diaby. Oh what might have been…
Good for Ryo. He needs to learn to play against English defenders so that adapting physically is done properly. If Diaby somehow recovers, he’ll be a beast of a player.
Might not be a good decision. If Theo or Ox gets injured, there will be no good cover for our wingers, we don’t want to see Arshavin as our first choice winger, right? So we should keep him in case of emergency, and maybe give him some game time in CL or FA, or maybe even against Bolton or Blackburn…
Cant really see ryo getting into any premiership team? Fulham have a fairly stable first team, Bolton are scrapping for their lives. Swansea might be ideal but then they are doing fine without him, west Ham could be a good shout?
I would be so happy if Diaby could stay fit. Really feel for him.
Who gives a thumbs down to this sentiment???
Send Ryo to Stevenage so he can tear the Spuds a new one in the Cup.
Unfortunately Diaby will never be the same. The injury was so bad that he will always have little nicks here and there. Sad because i reckon he could be a Yaya Toure or at least an improved Song.
Diaby had much more going forward than Song. I wouldn’t say a “better Song” but rather, a “better Vieira.” Indeed, the plan at one time was that he’d become a box-to-box dynamo with vision and technique like PV4, plus an outside shooting touch. He was/is more suited to the role vacated by Cesc than the one occupied by Song in the current set-up. The ankle damage and subsequent string of injuries has simply robbed him of the games he needed to develop further. He’ll be 26 in May. Hopefully, he can make it all the way back to full fitness… Read more »
Don’t think Diaby will ever recover properly unless he can do what Rosicky did and even so would he still be the same or improved player? I really feel for him but if he cannot recover by the beginning of next season then Arsene should let him go. It’s just so difficult to find someone like him though, his ball retention skills are superb, and is the perfect holding midfielder for our style of play. I’ve got my fingers crossed that he will make a full recovery and force himself back into the starting lineup but I feel it’s a… Read more »
Diaby isn’t a holding midfielder! He was/is a quality attacking midfielder, Im sure I remember him scoring a hat trick for us in a cup game playing just behind the striker, I thought he’d go on a play that sort of position but think he got injured by dan smith soon after? Anyone remember that?
I think most people do but they can’t pass an opportunity to trash song. The lack of trophies has left us with so many ‘told you so’ fans so some always get on the song’s back.
Sorry in advance for the negativity, but I think everyone is far overrating Diaby’s ability. Talk about his potential, sure, but the perfect holding midfielder for our style of play?? Mate, you need to be able to defend to be a holding midfielder. The only reason people think Diaby should play holding is because he’s tall and looks like Paddy Vieira from far away. He can’t tackle, he can’t mark a man, and he certainly doesn’t have the work rate to play as a holding midfielder. He is one of the laziest players we have had in the Wenger era,… Read more »
“Sorry in advance for the negativity, but … ”
Er, apology not accepted. Thumbs down.
Jasonissimo,
You are a real sad dickhead.
Personal abuse. Classic Cygan’s Left Foot.
I agree but it seems Wenger will never let him go. On the odd occasions he’s been fit in the past he’s been straight in the team, even when fit he just does the odd good thing. Wenger seems to have decided he has a place in our squad forever though, even if he never plays another game. He’ll always be ‘back soon’.
You have to realize that it is not just Wenger though. Laurent Blanc lets him ‘walk’ in to the first team of France when fit too. The thing is even though he is rarely fit up until now but when fit and firing he has the talent to boss the midfield. The medical team seem to think that he is a few more ‘niggling’ injuries away from being fully fit. For our sake I hope he can too..
Zak. You might not believe it but Diaby was playing Striker or just behind the striker at youth level in France, and he was a good one until he came to us and Arsene wanted him to play as a box to box midfielder. That is why his work rate and his tackling is not up to standard. As for tall technical players in general they come into their own after their mid twinties, when they are fully developed. Just look at RVP two games a week use to cause him injuries and now fully developed RVP is soo powerful.… Read more »
interesting about diaby playing up front as a youth. i always fancied him as a striker. he is excellent in the air, has superb close control, a big back of tricks, is very quick over first few yards, can finish and he’s a beast of a guy so would be a real handful for defenders. would be great to see him get a run up front and might be easier on his body than playing a midfield role he’s not suited to…
Miyachi on loan to fulham or bolton would be perfect. I don’t think Diaby will ever maximise his potential with his injury problems
I think its unfair comparing Diaby to Vieira or Song as he isnt and neve has been a holding midfielder, he is not that disciplined rype of player. Neither is he in the ‘cesc’ mould. He has neither the vision or passing ability for that role either. What he has got, however, which would be major plus if he regained fitness, is superb ball retention & dribbling ability, height, physical strength, quite a bit of pace and pretty decent in front of goal (something we’ve been missing). In my opinion he would be one of the two supporting wide players… Read more »
I think he’s best when surging forward from central midfield – a good turn of pace and ball control as you say. What bothered me about him was he held onto the ball a bit long (why am I writing in the past tense?). Hopefully he can speed up that ball movement when he gets back.
He scored an own goal agains man u……….a good player dough. Miss him big time. As 4 ryo, wish him success where ever he might decide to go.
“Whether or not Diaby can remain fit remains to be seen. It’d be the most optimistic of Gooner who’d put any money on it”. Well then, it’s official that Wenger is the most optimistic Gooner around. Not only putting money on Diaby remain fit, he also putting money on Gibbs remain fit and Wilshere to recover in March. Evidence is of course his lack of movement in the transfer market since Henry. Well, i hope it comes true (the player fitness, i mean).
You make him look like Samuel El-Jackson in Unbreakable, mate. But I believe haven had Rosicky, Ramsey, VP, Vermaelen, et cetera have to battle for long to save their career should fill us with hope that Diaby will eventually come good. I dare say he is the best midfielder this team can boast of because he has a little of every ingredient a midfilder needs: strength, good eye for a pass, relative speed, good shooting ability and the way he passes people makes even Fabregas get envious. And the most shocking thing is that whenever he comes back he gets… Read more »
Sounds like there’s a bunch of people on here that just wanna be negative and haven’t really seen him play much, even when just returning from injury diaby has put in more then decent performances almost evry time he plays, last time he had a run of games, he did well, even when getting sent off against newcastle by the supercunt dowd he still had a great game prior. I swear, the availability of the internet created this annoying underclass of people/haters that live to be hyper-critical while at the same time usually being completely ignorant on whatever topic they’re… Read more »
[in my best Brian Blessed voice]: Diaby’s alive?
come on diaby! i really want you back!
Injured how long ago? And what type of contract does he have! Forever? Replace him.maybe not that cost money dont it wenga
anyone else happy arteta is back!!!!good lord the team really missed the solidity he provides…for once i tought the whole team including the bench looked packed and quality yesterday.wish TH14 stayed till the end.
the only thing this team needs is for players like arshavin to pick up!!!
Miyaichi looks really promising, would love to see him at a physical team like Bolton, Sunderland or Newcastle and get regular football. I think having a similar turnaround as Wiltshire is expecting a lot though
One Song! We’ve only got one Song, we’ve only got one Song.
Song is our rock! Pics up a yellow every game. He put his boots in there, and scores/assists often enough. Flamini went and song stepped up!
Le Coq could be a great player!
Really want to see Ryo go out on loan and play. I think he’d do well at Fulham or Bolton. Doesn’t necessarily have to be in the Prem though, as long as he’s on the pitch and getting experience.
Diaby is an enigma. I don’t think we’ve seen his best, but unfortunately I don’t think we ever will. I don’t think he can make it through 10 matches without an injury.