Abou Diaby

Vassiriki Abou Diaby (born 11 May 1986 in Paris) is a France France national football team Association football of Côte d'Ivoire descent currently playing for Arsenal F.C.. Abou Diaby natural position is as a central midfielder, but on occasions has played as a left-sided midfielder and second striker for Abou Diaby club.

Club career

Early career

Diaby was born in Paris and began playing for Abou Diaby local club Red Star Saint-Ouen before joining Paris Saint-Germain FC at age 13 despite being a Olympique de Marseille supporter, subsequently leaving the club two years later. While attending Paris-Saint-Germain, Abou Diaby also regularly attended classes at the famed Clairefontaine.

Abou Diaby joined AJ Auxerre in 2002 and was a member of the Auxerre team that won the national U-16 championship that year. Abou Diaby coach at the time, Christian Henna, described Abou Diaby as a "very good technician, elegant, quick". Abou Diaby developed into a tall, powerful midfielder.

Abou Diaby signed as a professional at Auxerre, playing seven matches in 2004–05 and six in the first half of 2005–06. Abou Diaby first match for Auxerre's first team came as a last-minute substitute against Stade Rennais FC on 14 August 2004.

Arsenal

2005–06 season

On 12 January 2006, Diaby signed for Arsenal F.C. for a fee believed to be around £2m. Before joining the Gunners, Abou Diaby reportedly turned down a move to Arsenal's rivals Chelsea F.C.. Abou Diaby wears the number 2 shirt at Arsenal, which had been vacant since the retirement of Lee Dixon. Diaby has been touted as the replacement for former Gunners midfielder Patrick Vieira, due to Abou Diaby powerful, leggy style of play. Abou Diaby is able to play as an attacking midfielder, an athletic box-to-box midfield "schemer" or in a holding role in front of the back four.

Abou Diaby made Abou Diaby Arsenal debut as a substitute (soccer) in a 1–0 defeat to Everton F.C. on 21 January 2006. On 1 April, Diaby came off the bench to score Abou Diaby first goal for Arsenal, in their 5–0 rout of Aston Villa F.C., after being set-up by fellow Arsenal newcomer Emmanuel Adebayor. A month later however, on 1 May 2006, Diaby suffered a broken and dislocated ankle caused by a two-footed challenge by Sunderland A.F.C's Dan Smith (footballer born 1986). As a result of the injury, Diaby was out for eight months.

2006–07 season

Abou Diaby returned to competitive action on 9 January 2007, when Abou Diaby came on as a substitute for Theo Walcott in Arsenal's Football League Cup 6–3 Quarter-Final win against Liverpool F.C..

In the Football League Cup Final 2007 in Cardiff, Diaby was involved in an accidental collision with John Terry. Diaby's foot impacted with the left side of Terry's jaw, with Terry feeling the full force of the strike and ending up unconscious on the pitch for several minutes. The Chelsea captain was hospitalised but was released from hospital later that afternoon with no apparent long term injury.

2007–08 season

Abou Diaby made a rather bright start in the 2007–08 season. Arsène Wenger often played Abou Diaby in the left flank to improve Abou Diaby left foot, vision and decision making which Abou Diaby sometimes lacked playing at midfield. Abou Diaby made an early impact in the game against Derby County F.C., playing in the place of the injured Tomáš Rosický and scoring with a 25-yard strike.

On 12 December 2007 Abou Diaby scored Abou Diaby first ever goal in the UEFA Champions League against Steaua Bucharest, opening the scoring for Arsenal in their 2–1 win. On 29 March 2008, Diaby received Abou Diaby first red card for Arsenal against Bolton F.C, after a late tackle on Gretar Rafn Steinsson.

Abou Diaby scored Abou Diaby second Champions League goal for Arsenal on 8 April 2008, opening the scoring and giving Arsenal the advantage over Liverpool F.C at Anfield. Abou Diaby then suffered an injury.

2008–09 season

After the departure of Mathieu Flamini to AC Milan, Diaby was expected to compete with Denílson Pereira Neves and Alexandre Song for a place partnering Cesc Fabregas in central midfield, but the start of the 2008–09 season has seen Abou Diaby left on the sidelines through injury.

Upon Abou Diaby return to the Arsenal first team, Diaby set up a Theo Walcott goal in a 3–1 victory over Everton F.C, coming on as a substitute with 6 minutes remaining. Abou Diaby then started in Arsenal's tough away UEFA Champions League group stage game against Fenerbahçe, scoring in an emphatic 5–2 victory, Abou Diaby third in the competition, and claimed the man of the match performance. Abou Diaby then scored Abou Diaby first Premier League goal of the season in the 2–2 draw with Aston Villa on 26 December 2008.

International career

Diaby has been cap (sport) 14 times for the France national football team U-19 side, captaining the team in their successful 2005 European Under-19 Football Championship campaign in 2005. In February 2006, Abou Diaby made Abou Diaby début with the France national under-21 football team.

Diaby missed the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final against FC Barcelona, as well as the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, in which Abou Diaby was expected to take part with France, due to a broken and dislocated ankle.

On 15 March 2007, Abou Diaby was called up to the French senior squad for their two forthcoming fixtures, making Abou Diaby début for France on 24 March when Abou Diaby came on for Florent Malouda in a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying against Lithuania national football team. Abou Diaby then gained a starting place in the following match, against Austria national football team, playing 57 minutes, ending in a 1–0 victory for France.

Honours

Arsenal

- Runner Up
- - League Cup: 2007

International

- European Under-19 Football Championship: 2005

Club career statistics

France career statistics