Just Arsenal News

The Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira has come out in praise of Abou Diaby, who has often been billed as the “New Vieira”.

Diaby’s career was nearly destroyed before it had begun when his ankle was shattered by Dan Smith in a game at Sunderland, and Diaby will be returning to the scene again this weekend.

“It’s not easy to come back from an injury like that,” said Vieira. “He must be a strong player to do that. To make a full recovery, everything has to be right – the treatment, the support from the club and the help of the players around him.

“But most of all, the mind of the player has to be right. It is a long time not to be playing, especially when you are young.”

Diaby had only been at the Emirates for four months when he got injured, but he was determined to return and just eight months later he fought his way back into the first team.

Vieira was suitably impressed. “I know how hard it is when you come to England, it does take time to get used to your new life and surroundings,” said Vieira.

“But I also know the club and I know how well he will have been looked after, the support he would have been given.

“But he has also proved good enough to get back into the first-team picture. That is not easy at a club like Arsenal who have so many top players.”

Now he is a regular in the first team again, he is now having to run the gauntlet of the fans, who have marked him out as the weak link in Arsene Wenger’s side.

If he shows the same determination to succeed as he did after his injury, he is sure to win them over in the end.