Don't feel too bad for Diaby, he's made millions from the Arsenal physio room whilst poor Dan couldn't hack it in Scotland and now plays semi pro in Brisbane, getting paid in warm XXXX beer and cold left over pies from the club canteen. That's where our real sympathies should go.

Question - with the recent talk of a pay per play style offer for Diaby, he'd still take a squad place as he'd need to be registered?
If so then we're no better off other than re wages.

It's not too hard to muster an argument that Diaby on a pay to play could be better value than Flamini on a wage.

Unfortunately it doesn't look like we can get rid of Flamini.

People still get wages on a pay per play deal, they just don't get as much as they would have otherwise. Training and staying in shape outside the club is part of the work too for a footballer.

Klaus wrote:

Diaby fractured Wesley Sneijder's leg in preseason too back when we played Real Madrid. He also broke Ivan Campo's foot back in 2006. He's been dishing out plenty of horror tackles throughout the years to be honest. He's always been a brainless player.

The tackle on Steinsson was the worst by Abou.

He broke Nasri's leg in pre-season 2008 too.

Yes, but that just makes him more endearing

Qwiss! wrote:
Klaus wrote:

Diaby fractured Wesley Sneijder's leg in preseason too back when we played Real Madrid. He also broke Ivan Campo's foot back in 2006. He's been dishing out plenty of horror tackles throughout the years to be honest. He's always been a brainless player.

The tackle on Steinsson was the worst by Abou.

Oh right, I forgot about Steinsson.

This all factors in for me when you evaluate his career. Can't in good conscience paint him as the tragic victim of a horror challenge without acknowledging that he was as likely to be on the giving end of it. Smith has some small point when he says that his tackle gets unproportional attention because it happened against Arsenal and not Bolton, like Diaby's own assaults.

That being said, fuck Dan Smith. We're all responsible for our own actions. The oaf couldn't even make it as a low-league player in the end. He had no business putting in a challenge like that.

The thing about Dan Smith is that his whole game was built on kicking lads to stop them. Diaby was just a clumsy oaf. He wasn't really able to tackle but because he was big people expected him to be the new Vieira.

His biggest problem was his complete lack of vision.

Vieira was pretty much the complete midfield player. Physical attributes of power complementing the technique & intelligence as well as the mentality of a winner. Diaby wasn't even remotely close.

Pogba actually has some of Vieira's attributes but is a different player- Pogba knows how to use his strength and his positioning & intelligence is great but I think Pogba's close control is better and he's a better shooter while Vieira had a significantly better defensive game.

Qwiss! wrote:

The thing about Dan Smith is that his whole game was built on kicking lads to stop them. Diaby was just a clumsy oaf. He wasn't really able to tackle but because he was big people expected him to be the new Vieira.

This, Smith revealed himself when he said that he was just a "young lad trying to have a go at it". If I was Diaby reading this sorry ass self pitying interview I'd pay someone in Oz to have a go at his ankles.

Rucks wrote:

Unfortunately it doesn't look like we can get rid of Flamini.

Suck it up Rex.

I only just 'got' the title.

Well played.

Shit, I only got it after GM mentioned it.

Any actual news on Diaby?

Yeah, he's out for three weeks with a groin/ankle/hamstring/concussion niggle.

7 days later

DIABY AMONG FIVE PLAYERS LEAVING ARSENAL
Abou Diaby, together with academy players Jack Jebb, Austin Lipman, Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill and Josh Vickers, are leaving Arsenal, having reached the end of their contracts.
Diaby leaves the club after 10 years in which he made 180 first-team appearances, scoring 19 goals.
A hugely talented midfielder, unfortunately his time at the club was interrupted by a number of serious injuries. Diaby has also represented France on 16 occasions.
Midfielder Jebb, forward Lipman, full-back Ormonde-Ottewill and goalkeeper Vickers came through the Gunners’ Hale End academy together, and went on to represent the club at under-21 level.
Jebb, Lipman and Ormonde-Ottewill have all played for England at youth level.
Arsenal would like to take this opportunity to thank Abou, Jack, Austin, Brandon and Josh for their contribution to the club and to wish them well for the future.

Sad what happend to Diaby...