Football
ESPN staff 10y

Arsene Wenger hopeful on Abou Diaby

Arsene Wenger has said in The Sun that Abou Diaby can be a "major asset" to Arsenal if he stays fit for the 2014-15 season.

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Diaby, 28, played 45 minutes of Arsenal's 2-0 friendly win over Boreham Wood on Saturday, after injury last campaign restricted him to just 16 minutes of playing time.

The Frenchman is back in training, though, and Wenger hopes the midfielder can enjoy better luck with his fitness and play a key role for the Gunners.

Wenger said: "If we get Diaby back it will be a major asset for the team.

"At the moment we go step by step but he came through the game on Saturday so that is very good news for us."

Diaby, who signed for Arsenal from Auxerre in 2006, added: "Saturday's game was the first time I had played for 45 minutes for more than a year so I was really happy to be back in a normal game.

"I hope it's going to stay like this from now on. Preseason training has been really good so far and we still have three weeks to go before the start of the season.

"I hope to complete at least 90 percent of it and that it will be a successful one for me."

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