 |
Abou DiabyFrench midfielder
Date of Birth: 11.05.1986
Country:  France |
Content:
Biography of Abou Diaby
Abou Diaby, a French midfielder, is currently playing for the English club Arsenal and the French national team. He was born in Paris and began his career at the age of 13 at the local club Paris Saint-Germain, despite being a fan of Marseille. Two years later, he left the club and joined the youth team of Auxerre in 2003, where he won the national U-16 championship in the same year. His coach at Auxerre, Christian Henna, described Diaby as a fast and graceful player with good technique. He developed into a tall and powerful midfielder at Auxerre.
Career at Arsenal
Diaby made his debut for the Auxerre first team on August 14, 2004, against Rennes. On January 12, 2006, he signed a contract with Arsenal for a transfer fee of approximately £2 million. Before joining Arsenal, there were reports that he could have joined their London rivals Chelsea. He took the number 2 shirt at Arsenal, which was vacant after Lee Dixon retired. Diaby was considered a potential replacement for former Arsenal player Patrick Vieira, as he resembled him physically.
Diaby made his debut for Arsenal on January 21, 2006, as a substitute against Everton in a match that Arsenal lost 1-0. On April 1, 2006, he scored his first goal for Arsenal in a match against Aston Villa, which ended in a 5-0 win. However, a month later, on May 1, 2006, Diaby suffered a serious injury - a displaced ankle fracture caused by a tackle from Sunderland's Dan Smith. As a result, he was sidelined for eight months and returned to football on January 9, 2007, as a substitute in the League Cup quarter-final.
In the 2007/08 season, Diaby often played on the left flank of midfield. This was done to help him develop his left foot, field vision, and decision-making speed. Additionally, Arsenal had a shortage of players due to injuries who could play on the left side of midfield. On December 12, 2007, Diaby scored his first goal in the Champions League against Steaua Bucharest. He scored his second goal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, this time against Liverpool. However, he later suffered an injury that affected the end of the season for him.
Challenges and Progress
Before the 2008/09 season, Diaby was expected to fill the void left by Mathieu Flamini, who had moved to AC Milan. Surprisingly, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger did not buy a replacement for Flamini, giving young players the opportunity to prove themselves. Although Diaby himself, when compared to Vieira, described himself as more inclined towards attacking play. Injuries disrupted Diaby's plans to establish himself in the first team, and he also lacked the ability to read the game, which is necessary for playing in the center of midfield. Diaby played in various positions, including as a forward. In a match against Fenerbahce in the Champions League, Diaby scored and Arsenal won 5-2. He was named the "Man of the Match". Overall, he showed inconsistent performances in this season, alternating between successful games and lackluster ones, where he often held onto the ball, trying to dribble past multiple opponents.
Later, Diaby changed his opinion about his position. He said that he enjoyed playing deeper in midfield, where he could control the game, break up opponent attacks, and initiate his team's attacks. Diaby also stated that being compared to Vieira was an honor for him. At the end of the season, it was revealed that Diaby chose not to go on vacation but instead opted to train with a renowned fitness specialist in France, focusing on improving his physical attributes. The main goal of these training sessions was to become stronger in physical duels, which are common in the English Premier League.
Continued Success
Diaby's first match of the 2009/10 season was in the Champions League qualification against Celtic, coming on as a substitute for Andrei Arshavin and playing a part in the attack that led to the second goal against the Scottish team. A few days later, Diaby started in the Premier League match against Portsmouth and scored two goals. After the game, he received praise from Arsenal's manager, Arsène Wenger, who stated that Diaby was well-prepared for the season and possessed all the necessary qualities for the Premier League.
Overall, the start of the season was mixed for Diaby. He had confident performances interspersed with lackluster ones, and he also suffered minor injuries periodically. However, he gradually found good form and became an important player in the center of midfield, contributing with goals and assists. The reward for his performances was a new long-term contract signed on January 1, 2010. After his goal against Liverpool on February 10, 2010, which secured a 1-0 victory for Arsenal, Wenger praised Diaby for his tremendous progress.
