Wenger Confirms Midfielder Has Suffered Another Injury Setback

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed midfielder Abou Diaby has suffered another injury setback after picking up a groin injury this week.

The 27-year-old returned to full training earlier this month following more than a year on the sidelines with a serious knee injury that he suffered during training in March 2013.

Having responded well to training, Arsene decided to step up his recovery with a run-out for the under-21’s on Tuesday night against Chelsea and Diaby impressed during a 45 minute appearance.

However, speaking at his pre-match press conference this morning ahead of Monday night’s game against Newcastle, the boss has confirmed that the French midfielder picked up a groin injury after the game so will not be in contention to play against the Geordies.

Arsene didn’t give any indication how long Diaby will be out for but the latest setback means it’s highly unlikely he’ll play any part in our Premier League run-in. If he can get some more minutes under his belt for the Under-21’s, then there’s a slight chance he could feature in the FA Cup final, but I think that would be a huge risk given how long he’s been out and how important that game is.

It’s been a long road to recovery for Diaby and I suppose small muscle injuries are to be expected after more than a year out, so we’ll just have to be patient and see if he’s able to get himself fit enough to challenge for a first team spot again.

Wenger on Diaby: "He had a little groin problem after [under-21] game so will not be available on Monday" http://t.co/QrpCR2SEYf #AFCvNUFC

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) April 25, 2014