Arsene Wenger is close to having every member of his first team squad fit for the start of 2013 with the news that both Andre Santos and Abou Diaby will return to full training on Monday.
The duo have both been long-term absentees; the Brazilian side lined with a muscle strain since the end of November and the French midfielder ruled out since the September defeat to Chelsea with a persistent thigh problem.
Coupled with the news that both Olivier Giroud and Tomas Rosicky have overcome the illness which kept them out of the trip to Wigan it means that only goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is not within sight of a return.
“It is unusual, especially at this period of the season,” the boss told Arsenal.com.
“It is down to the continuing good work we are doing behind the scenes at the club.
“We hope that it continues because it is important to go into January with a full squad and we will be losing Gervinho to the Africa Cup of Nations.”
Yeah, we know we’ve probably jinxed this now.
Visions of Coloccini’s shit wiry hair blinding Cazorla’s lovely hazelnut eyes, a typically wayward Shola Ameobi shot decapitating Gibbs, Szczesny fainting at the sight of Gabriel Obertan’s weird shaped bonce and Wilshere and Arteta getting their tongues so in a twist trying to pronounce Gael Bigirimana’s name correctly that they nearly choke.
Hopefully with a full contingent at our disposal, Diaby can be eased into the squad as slowly as possible, preferably encased in bubble wrap!
I can see it now, Diaby will take a throw-in, injury a neck muscle and will be out for ”three weeks”
Or when coming on as a sub. Diaby decides to crouch down and tie his shoe laces. Oops back injury!
Only if Diaby can stay healthy … . Our midfield will be quite formidable against any club. What a tragedy.
One week left until Diaby’s next injury. Or is Arsene going to surprise us with these news on the 31st of Jan????
Yep, that means no transfer business at all.
With so many players returning from injury aka. LANS, who needs new signings. Right?
What a coincidence, a fully-fit squad.. right before the transfer window opens. Again!
Diaby , Andre Santos are like new signings.
One of them is a pretty bad signing though
Santos is two people nowadays. Meatpie santos
when was the last time we had so many players fit/very near fit? this is actually exciting, as one of the main things holding us back in recent years-injuries has almost gone. i’ll enjoy this while it lasts. COYG!
I hope we use Diaby when necessary, his “persistent” thigh injury makes him so fragile… So unfortunate for an amazing player, if only we could switch the issue with someone not-so-useful *cough* Chamakh *cough*
It is not nice to wish this issue to anybody!
Is it nice to wish this “issue” to traitor ex-captains?
There are very few mid fielders who make me tingle like Abou. He’s like Yaya Toure, except he has this flair and finesse that just make him a dream to watch. He can either bulldoze his way through, with pace and power, or dribble the fuck out of people, while running at pace as well. Then the dream turns into a nightmare, and he crumbles onto the pitch in a heap of broken flesh that makes one ask why the fuck the brittle tend to be the most talented.
diaby should be eased into the team………i still belive he can become a great player……….if we have kept faith with him all these while imo why giveup nw?????
Because he is taking up a squad space and we’re paying him plus the illusory depth it gives the team seems to stop Wenger from buying in players with the power we sometimes need in the Premiership.
It’s sad to say that a player as talented as Diaby is becoming a liability to the team but there comes a time when you have to say he simply can’t justify his place through not being available for far too much of the season, a line must be drawn and I don’t think we’re far off it.
just like we should have got rid of Van Persie in 08/09 right?
RIGHT!!
I have said this once and I will say it again. I feel really sorry for Abou. Hope this is the last stretch of games he will miss. He could be one of the most complete midfielders around but injuries has really seen him shot(i curse that sunderland idiot who broke his ankle in a meaningless end of season game.) I could understand Wenger’s presistence with him but if he fails to at least get a run of games till the end of season, I am sorry but he has to go. With the squad limit at 25, we need… Read more »
There’s no way Walcott will ever be that player he’s simply not smart enough. His threat is in getting behind a defence. Henry was a threat regardless of how deep a side defended. He could play, create & score either in front of a defence or behind. Theo is a guy who will always have great moments but is more reliant on the way the opposition plays than on his own ability. He’ll always help get you in the top 4 but will always hinder you with his inconsistencies if you want to win the league
I hope Wenger doesn’t use this as an excuse not to buy anything in January now. Even with all players fit this squad needs to be strengthen.
OMG Diaby!!!
Oh! my groin diaby?
Noticed in this mornings blog that Wenger was quoted as “gaining Gervinho to the ACN” rather than “losing” him as stated above. Freudian slip by bloggs or Wenger?
Either way, hopefully he will come back a confident and competent player who can contribute to an Arsenal team in full flight!
In my dream world this January we will be mostly purchasing the services of two splendid players whom I have not heard of but yet prove to have very similar abilities to a prime Marc Overnars and Dennis Bergkamp.
In my fantasies I trust.
Wrap diaby in cotton before and after games. When we are about to play a match, get him out and get him exposed to the real world where players DON’T tackle you, but you will still manage to injure yourself. Good luck diaby, you’re gonna need a shit load of this!
Pigs might fly!! this news is the best Christmas present so far – though no amount of man love I hold for Diaby will stop me wincing every time he runs or goes in for a tackle! It’s all good AW wrapping him in cotton wool but what’s the point when the twat of a national team manager across the channel will continually over use him in meaningless friendlies advertedly crocking our heroine once more!
Please Diaby retire from international football & focus on fitness, health & hopefully a longer career with the mighty Arsenal FC.
A few seasons ago, full strength would have truly meant full strength. But with players like Fabianski, Santos, Djourou, Squillaci, Chamakh and Arshavin part of the team, it really doesn’t feel like full strength.
Diaby! Yes!
I’m back gays!
Will you even make the bench? Maybe till poor gervinho leaves for CAF. Even then i’d rather you still didn’t, you started well santos but evolved into utter dross.
DIABY HELL YEAH! I am as happy as the day wilshere “revived” from his injury.lets hope atleast this time he remains fit.
Hope Diaby stays fit this time. i really rate him as a player.
At the moment pinning hope on Diaby is a huge gamble. I hope we are in a position where he can be eased in gently so he can build up his muscle density enough to kick a ball in anger again. I hope it works out for him cos he could pose a different question to our opponents. I can see him getting shafted out on the wing a lot where he is not as effective but it is a well used tactic and he is better than Ramsey in that position probably.
Everyone keeps mentioning Tomas Rosicky in different circles: ‘great player, changes games, injury prone, would love to see him play on pitch with Cazorla, pushes the ball up-field quickly,’ blah-blah-blah…
I like the play of a fit and in-form Tomas Rosicky, but does everyone remember that he will be out of contract this Summer, or did his signed of a 1 year contract last year actually extend something beyond this summer?
If he’s as valued as stated, and no plans to bring him back materialize, should Arsenal not try and get the most from him while they have him?
He signed something late last season.
I love this game!
Hope our manager doesn’t use this as an excuse as pointed out by some people above, we really need more than a striker and a play maker that can reap defences apart with super pace and some nice dribbles.
We need to win something by all means this season.
Thank God for the African Cup of Nations.
Hopefully Ivory Coast can make it all the way to the final 🙂
Can I suggest that Diaby retire from International football to save and prolong his club football?
What is it you think playing a couple of games every three months plus a tournament every two years is going to do?
I’ve been waiting for you to comment all day. Your name makes me so happy.
Sweet. Diaby is fit just on time for us to accept a bid for him.
I swear if he gets injured again I will scream
‘If’… ha!
I like AAllen. TStillman. Not so much.
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If anyone doesn’t think we need to sign a player, you’re deluded.
LANS
Rthe ba quotes are quite funny today. Aw clearly said as were playing newcastle tomorrow its unfair to talk about cue aw no to signing ba. He may be, may not be just interesting how the media twist it
For me we desp need a dm and a cf
Please no 3rd return for henry, we need a permanent player not an ageing great
so 25 of our 26 man squad is fit. a squad including fabianski mannone djourou squillaci santos ramsey gervinho arshavin and chamakh……..hardly awe inspiring is it.
New years res for diaby… stay fit for a season n prove all the doubters wrong!!