Abou Diaby injury has Arsenal boss fuming

 
3 October 2012

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is frustrated with Abou Diaby's latest injury and accused the French federation of failing to heed his warning over the player.

The 26-year-old has endured a torrid time with injuries ever since breaking his ankle at Sunderland six years ago and made just five appearances last season.

Diaby had looked back to his best at the start of this campaign and was in splendid form until he was forced off 17 minutes into Saturday's 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat to Chelsea.

Wenger has revealed the France international now faces three weeks on the sidelines with a thigh strain, which has frustrated the Arsenal boss.

Wenger apportioned some of that blame to his handling by the French national team, claiming he was called up too soon when he played against Finland last month.

"I said many times that if France wanted Diaby in Spain (for the World Cup qualifier on October 16) they should not take him for (the qualifiers against) Finland and Belarus," he said.

"They could have taken him but not played him because the guy has been out for a year, played four or five games.

"You have a breather, give him two weeks to recover completely. I think it was a mistake to play him with the French national team."

Wenger added: "It is as well an opportunity for somebody else to stand up and play but it is a blow, yes," he said.

"Not only because we lost a good player but because he has qualities that the other players haven't got.

"For example, on Saturday when he moved out Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain comes in, takes his position straight away and loses the ball on set-pieces. This is a ball Diaby would have won easily because he has the size.

"We have better balance size-wise and strength as well because he has the power.

"It is really frustrating because once you think you get there it (an injury) happens again."

Diaby could be joined on the sidelines for tonight's Champions League Group B clash with Olympiakos by Mikel Arteta after the Spaniard suffered an ankle knock against Chelsea.

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