Written by Mean Lean on Wednesday, 30 March 2011 16:41

The taxi door slams shut and International football is driven away into the distance for this season which is wonderful news. All that International football provides for me is fear and worry, worry that an Arsenal player will disappear off the face of the earth.

Let us not forget that it was on International duty where Thomas Vermaelen suffered his achilles problem, the problem that was supposed to keep him out for a few days. Hearts where well and truly in mouths last night when Robin Van Persie was clattered into by a Hungarian player.

I missed all the International football last night as I was playing football myself but when I scrolled through twitter on my train, tweets of 'RVP crocked' or 'Robin injured with knee problem' came thick and fast. I must have sworn to myself a considerable amount of times, goodness knows what the other passengers thought of me, staring at my phone frothing like crazy.

News soon filtered through that the injury may not be very serious and that he was only brought off as a precaution. We all soon heard the Dutch coach say that Robin should be fit for the weekend which was a massive relief at the time until I remembered the whole injury shambles last season. I will wait nervously for Arsenal.com to hand us some good news, although knowing what the dot commers are like, it may arrive on Sunday morning.

Van Persie had scored a pretty good goal to put the Dutch 1-0 up and that is very good for him and hopefully for us. Goals breed confidence and we need to get back to scoring goals again. West Brom in the second half aside, goals have been a little few and far between over the last few weeks. That could all change because the worlds greatest name could well be close to a return.

Theo Van Nasregas.

Theo Walcott, Alex Song and Cesc Fabregas have been going through the paces while all the helter skelter of the Internationals have been going on. 'Sami Nasri, Nasri, Sami Nasri!' appears to have come through for the French without any obvious problem.

We have to go on a winning run, we have to get the confidence and belief back up and with those players being available for the run in then anything is possible.

Theo Van Nasregas can win the Premier League this season.

Another important part of the team that could be reunited again is the Song and Wilshere axis in the middle of midfield. I have yet to see Jack's 70 minutes for England but from what I have read, it seems as if he erm, played like Jack Wilshere. With Song and Wilshere together we look a more balanced and fluid side.

My only concern would be the match fitness of the returning players. As good as a player is, usually they need to have a had a few games under their belts before we see the best and we do not have a few games to ease players back in. I am thinking more of Theo Walcott and Alex Song. While Cesc may need fine tuning, he still can see passes that other players do not and his ability to make the final pass is almost part of his famous DNA.

With Jack having played so many minutes of late and Wenger having both Ramsey and Diaby available we could end Saturday's game with a midfield consisting of Song, Diaby and Ramsey depending on the score line and injuries. I really believe that our midfield has so many options of quality when each midfielder is physically and mentally in the right condition.

The midfield axis of Song and Diaby really excites me and I am truly surprised at how much stick a player of Diaby's talent and strength receives.

It is almost the perfect midfield combination, one that consists of power, skill and dribbling. When Diaby has not had a run of games then he can be frustrating. I understand that frustration but I challenge anyone to find two games in a row where he has played poorly after having a decent run in the side. I keep on harping on about that but I consider it key to the argument. Players need games to be at their best.

This is not to say that Jack Wilshere does not deserve his place because he does. He has grabbed his opportunity with both hands and is now deservedly a first team starter. Had Diaby and Song started the season and developed the same understanding as the Wilshere/Song combination then I believe they would have been a key part of our season up to now.

It is just my opinion and it is something we will not know the answer to unless they are given an extended run together in the middle of the Arsenal midfield.

I have this opinion of the two because of a run they strung together at the back end of last season, in a slightly different variation of our current system and they were monsters in midfield and dominated in many games. It was around the time when we thrashed Porto at the Emirates because I sat at the Emirates thinking how good they worked together.

I am probably wasting my time with this as it is apparent that Abou Diaby has plenty of detractors and he can only prove them wrong once he manages to stay fit and ultimatley that has been his problem.

What we can all agree on is that Song, Jack and Fab provide us with great balance and let us cross fingers that they remain fit for the rest of the season as with the rest of the squad.

Back tomorrow for some more waffle I guess.

• Add New
• RSS

Comments (26)

• 30-Mar-2011 17:18 | | Jago  - Diaby
  

  Would agree if not for the fact that Diaby is lazy and brainless. No amount of talent can offset those handicaps. Would love him to prove me wrong but I doubt he will.
  
  I suspect Ramsey will have more of a role to play than Diaby.

• 30-Mar-2011 17:26 | | nicoman
  

  you are absolutely clueless Diaby is a pathetic excuse for an Arsenal player how many more half asleep performances is it going to take for you to wake up.....and although much improved Song is far to slow to be a top class holding midfielder.Both are liabilities and holding us back. Wake up deluded gooners maybe your half asleep like diaby when watching games.

• 30-Mar-2011 17:32 | | Adams  - the final countdown! da na na na... da na na na na
  

  Have actually been glad of the international break for once. March was painful, one kick in the guts after another, and I've appreciated the chance to pick myself up off the floor. I hope that's all behind us now and it's great to look forward to having most of our key players back in action. Having said that, with Almunia in goal and Djourou out it does feel like driving along the motorway with your eyes shut and your fingers crossed.... there's a chance you could make it but the smart money is on an accident happening.
  
  Anyway, the situation is what it is, we've got a chance to win the league, and need to get behind the team. COME ON ARSENAL!!!!

• 30-Mar-2011 17:33 | | Adams  - ???
  

  nicoman, you're talking pendulous ones about Song....

• 30-Mar-2011 17:42 | | Man United Killa  - Day Dreaming
  

  Wake up ML...footy is not about loving your club blindly.
  Theo Van Nasregas!!! Yes..agreed!!!wonderful but Diaby+Song midfield= atrocious.You really must be on Diaby's private payroll or something of tha sort.
  
  This club is now a club that is content with second place (actually 4th spot and a champions league berth) season in season out.And guess what?Highest ticket prices around.
  
  Cesc wants to win and thats why he is off because the club did not properly support him by placing winners around him. some will be happy with £45M but i wont because Cesc is a fighter and a winner. and so the pressure moves to Jack and again he wont be supported by having winners around him and he will run his balls off over next 2-3 years, earn alot of money given his age and then be sold to chelsea, man city or man u in about 5 yrs time.
  As for RVP and Nasri they might end up joining other European clubs if things dont change.
  
  Your article makes everything sound hunky dory.You think its a coincidence that we keep losing to our closest rivals and dont show up when we need to? This is a big source of worry but yet every single day,you talk about how amazing this team is.Some of us,and who knows-maybe just like you too,have been around a long time so we know what heights this team can reach.And nothing is being done about it.It will be nice to rave on about our abilities but at the moment,that just aint cutting it.

• 30-Mar-2011 17:44 | | Man United Killa
  

  I agree.Ramsey is more focused.and more importantly more willing to fight.this is a man's game..not a game for boys.

• 30-Mar-2011 17:44 | | MeanLean
  

  I happen to trust the opinions of Wenger, the French management who have given him caps in the World Cup and his then Auxerre manager, who played him in the first team as a young teenager over your own.
  
  Disagree with my views, I expect many to but be respectful in your argument or go to another site where kids and teenagers swear and insult each other. This is not that place.
  
  Thank you.

• 30-Mar-2011 17:45 | | Man United Killa
  

  I wonder when they will wake up.Jokers!

• 30-Mar-2011 17:45 | | MeanLean
  

  Adams, I am really hoping that the return of our core can help our defence. When we defend as a team then our defence is exposed less. Well that is my story and I am sticking to it.

• 30-Mar-2011 17:49 | | MeanLean
  

  I think the lazy and brainless comment is floating around as fact but I am not sure this is true.
  
  Diaby covers plenty of ground, I will look for his stats but he operates in both boxes as much as many of our opponents.
  
  Sometimes he has left his man go but it is not because he cannot be arsed.
  
  I will eat my hat if Diaby gets a run of games for whatever reason and does not produce top performances.

• 30-Mar-2011 17:51 | | MeanLean
  

  Like I said.
  
  Let me know when Diaby hasn't performed at a high level when he has had a run of games together.
  
  If you can do that then your argument may hold water.

• 30-Mar-2011 17:57 | | Man United Killa
  

  Yes Sir!!!
  But what more of a proof do you need than his recent run?How many games does he need to play averagely.
  Sometimes if a player wont play,at least he should allow his team mates to play.His frequent play hold ups, ball losses and slow play are enough proof to me but I will gladly take your challenge.

• 30-Mar-2011 18:15 | | MeanLean
  

  That is indeed my point. This season he has struggled and the reason for that is because he hasn't stayed fit.
  
  A few examples of players returning and looking below par.
  
  Cesc Fabregas at Blackburn earlier in the season. Van Persie needing many games to return to top form. Rosicky looking a different player from the one that started the season.
  
  If you have Arsenal TV Online then I suggesting finding a game from last season after a run in the team and tell me that he isn't different from the stop-start Diaby of this season.
  
  If your argument is that we cannot keep injured players because they don't perform then that is a different argument altogether. But Diaby is a player with superb technical qualities, scores goals, wins tackles and dominates midfield.
  
  And of course I follow the club blindly. I am an Arsenal supporter through the good and the bad and so should all Gooners.
  
  The difference is that I see plenty that is right and not what others see as awful.

• 30-Mar-2011 18:17 | | nicoman
  

  I apologise if i offended you but i did not use foul and abusive language in my critisicm of your blog but was merely passionate in opinion. I have been watching the Arsenal for nearly 40 years and it is very infuriating in light of the current climate when gooners make naive or deluded comments such as yours. In my opinion the likes of diaby denilson song clichy sagna almunia bendtner and present day rosicky are all liabilities with wich we have won little or nothing and placed greater burden on our good players.Your argument doesnot hold up as the French management was embarassed during the world cup just like we have been in recent years on many occassions. Its time for Wenger to put the Arsenal back in to Arsenal.

• 30-Mar-2011 18:36 | | nicoman
  

  Diaby has no idea of team ethic example selfishly getting sent off against Newcastle, he is full of mistakes example headed own goal against Man u, has no drive or commitment example is always always cruising around the pitch half asleep doesnt get stuck in to the tackle,no urgency in tracking back and his reaction time is terrible. In short he is not a winner there are plenty of sunday league footballers who have good feet like him but dont have the right attitude and mentality they are not winners

• 30-Mar-2011 18:57 | | MeanLean
  

  Disagree with much of what you say there.
  
  Diaby has plenty of drive. He often gets our game going with his surging runs.
  
  You cannot count the headed own goal as an example of being 'full of mistakes' It was a crazy one off that he hasn't done again since.
  
  What Diaby probably isn't is a leader but many players are not leaders. I think if he had a run of games with good players around him then he would shine.
  
  Vieira is more the type to drag a team over the line where as Diaby might not be that character but that doesn't mean that he cannot become a fine player because I truly believe he can.

• 30-Mar-2011 19:52 | | Anonymous
  

  Good read Buddy, and I would agree with what you say if Diaby wasn`t a sick-note in the true sence of the word.
  Believe me when I say he will always be this way. It isn`t his fault, it`s just the way that it is.
  No Arsenal fan can rely on RvP, Diaby or our centre backs to be available, at any particular time.
  And that means we are not allowed to have a consistance 1st XI. Add to that that our talisment captain and best player is also heading down the same road, and we`re loking at more than 6 years before we`re consistantly strong enough to be considered the best team in England , let alone Europe.

• 30-Mar-2011 19:55 | | Kidd
  

  Diaby is a terrific player wn on song.jus that he did'nt hav any luck with injuries this season,that affected his game.wn the season started he was obviosly ahead of wilshire in the pecking order ,had he stayed fit i doubt wilshire would fought his way ahead of diaby.pple hav short memories,diaby won us a game against liverpool last season and he had a hell of games last season.he played a blinder at the world cup.how many games van persie needed 2 get in top form?those who calling 4 the axing of song ,sagna and clichy God knows wat they hav been smoking!

• 30-Mar-2011 21:20 | | kingsley  - ON Diaby
  

  I totally agree with your comments on DIaby. However the argument may purely be academic. The problem is, DIaby simply has rotten luck with injuries. If he can stay fit and get a run, he'll convince the naysayers, however, with Wilshire continuing to play the way he is, I doubt he'll get a chance at a clear run anytime soon.

• 31-Mar-2011 09:57 | | CHGooner
  

  Have to say of all the players that get mentioned - quite rightly in my view- as being substandard both mentally and ability wise (We can all list them but here goes anyway! Denilson, Rosicky, Clichy, Eboue, Bendtner, Squid, Almunia, Flap, Diaby... In my view Diaby - and possibly Clichy - is perhaps the only one i wouldn't want us to out immediately. That would be regardless of getting replacements. I honestly believe these players are harmful to the squad by being there. In Diaby's case however he MIGHT just transition into a decent footballer and at least he can get things moving (unlike the horrific Denilson!) and has a positive approach. I think he is worth another season and as ML says a run without injuries would allow a proper look.

• 31-Mar-2011 17:43 | | podge
  

  How can any arsenal fan call diaby a waste of space he has put in some(keyword) brilliant performances for us. He is 24 and should be just coming into his prime in the next 2 seasons. Whenever he has a had a run of games he has been excellent and dominated games, he is a french international for a reason. Diaby has a had an unlucky time with injuries due to some terrible tackles against him. The article is right and Diaby has been very good this season despite missing a good portion of it. People say the team lacks winners but to be honest the team has lacked important players when it really mattered. This season we have missed TV5 for almost the entire campaign, RVP was missing for some big games early, we were missing Theo and Cesc for the carling cupfinal when the team was lacking the penetration they usually provide, against barcelona theos pace was very effective without him thye could push the defenders up almost into midfield and put on the finest display of football i have ever seen. As the arsenal team gets older the players get stronger and more robust we have had less injuries this season than in the last few years next year we should have less again.

• 01-Apr-2011 10:30 | | sapman
  

  lol....manutd killa youre exaggerating
  
  diabby was one of our finest midfielders last season ..and frances best midfielder in the world cup..this year he is plagued with injuries
  
  why do arsenal fans use the bad momments of our players to create an opinion of them ? lol .....
  
  shall i remind you how many bad momments bergkamp had ? two missed penalties that cost us two titles ....when diabby f*cks up liek that speak all u want.
  
  he also slammed one in with leverpool champions league 2nd leg and had a massive game there too ...but senderos and a certain ref had different ideas unfortunately
  
  theirry henry ..3 1on1 ..fluffed all three of them..our greatest scorer ....denilson scored the qualifying penalty against roma in last 16 2 years ago inside olimpico aged 20? 21?
  
  our footballers have seen a lot and experienced a lot and have played in the kind of stages zidanne didnt reach till he got to juventus as a 26 yearold ...
  
  it is silly and ignorant to burn players who reach semis and quarters in europes toughest comeptition, and compete with giant spenders in the toughest domestic league..and more importantly most of them have not even hit their prime.
  
  arsene knows ...its just he is too far ahead in his thinking ..as a manger he is on a different level than anyone around.

• 01-Apr-2011 10:45 | | sapman
  

  and mean lean is correct
  
  too many frustrated and paranoid gooners focusing on the negatives instead of the positives of arsenal football club
  
  it is an utter disgrace to hear all these muppets transmitting their fears to the team
  
  own the f*ck up and support your club..learn what your club is about..embrace it and support it.
  
  arsenal creates its own football with its own players and plays the best football in the country and perhaps in europe (after barca) and manages all that through its own means ..and gets close to winning titles with a bunch of younsgters who havent even peaked yet
  
  if you cant look at it this way then you dont deserve to be an arsenal fan
  
  
  the times were arsenal fans would be proud of english hardmen and alcoholics are long fkn gone and thank god for that ...we have moved from an old 35 seater into a world class stadium and we enjoy the kind of facilities and training centre that even real and milan and clubs like juve and inter and i say also ajax would be jealous of.
  
  the change in the club since wenger took over is the change youd normally find in the span of a century and not just a mere 15 years.

• 11-Apr-2011 16:01 | | jame
  

  well, Diaby is a superb player. I can tell you that on his day he can ran the midfield single handedly. There is no other player at Arsenal who can do that. People say he doesnt release the ball early but i wonder if these people have watched Xavi or Iniesta closely. You see Diaby as a liability becoz you only think about scoring on counter attacks., a team of Arsenal's statue should be able to score anytime. BUT i think our main problem is our front., theo-RVP-Arshavin dont trade places thats why we struggle to score when we are playing our normal game defenders easily mark them out

• 11-Apr-2011 22:18 | | richie
  

  ML Amen to that bro! For the doubters Check the stats watch Abou when he's played regularly and come back and tell us we are all wrong. But use tha stats and games to prove your point. Most of us who've taken the time and trouble to do just that know you'll find it hard to prove you point factually.

• 11-Apr-2011 22:35 | | richie
  

  Kingsley thats a very good point and there is nothing anyone can disagree with. Diaby may never play for us again after this season, AW might've given him all the chances he'll ever get. All that doesn't change the fact that Diaby has everything needed to be a top offensive mid, but rotten luck injury wise could be his downful for us. I've hoped and hoped he'd get his injury free chance to prove that his single handed distruction of the England under 19's team wasn't a fluke. Between injury's (some horrific) we've only had glimpses of his abilities, for me those glimpses have been enough to fuel my wish to see him do well for us, for others the boot is on the other foot they've not seen enough to justify keeping him. You pays your money you takes your choice.

Write comment

Your Details:

Name:

Comment:

Title:

Message:

Powered by Compojoom comment 4.1.7 stable