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Was this predestined?

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With the international break coming to an end for now, managers can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that their key players are coming back to their respective clubs injury free.

Though some may look on the break as a positive, others see it as a sometimes a negative situation.

One manager I can tell you will be utterly disappointed with this international break is Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal’s early season optimism has taken a blow after Abou Diaby could miss the game against Southampton this weekend after sustaining an injury whilst on duty with France.

Diaby, alongside others, has undoubtedly been one of the star performers in our solid start to the season so far. Form which he carried into the international break to serve up a match-winning performance in his country’s opening World Cup qualifier against Finland.

But the problem now is he’s injured (again), even though it is for only a short period.

We do have replacements ready to jump in, but the Frenchman will be a big miss as he seemed to have found some excellent form, which I think was short of his potential best.

It’s hard not to say we didn’t see this coming though. As brilliant as Diaby is/has been, the midfielder does seem to have a frail body for a man whose game is based on a lot of ball winning, tackling and box-to-box runs.

Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps recently revealed that a muscular issue kept the 26-year-old out of Tuesday’s qualifier at home to Belarus:

‘Diaby took a bad shot and he has muscular discomfort. He is not free in his movements.’

The news has, without a doubt, come as a blow to the club. The hopes of the strict pre-season regime finally riding the Frenchman of his persistent injuries seem to be vanishing ever since treatment began after his career threatening injury in 2006.

Like Arsene Wenger, I am a big fan of his fellow countryman and was as delighted like many fans were with the start he made to the season, helping the club to a win and two draws without letting a single goal slip in – our very own Yaya Toure.

Hopefully the precautions taken were enough to ensure Diaby will return in time to face Southampton on Saturday. I’d hate to see his promising start to the campaign come to an abrupt halt, and I’m sure others feel the same.

If he could stay fit all season long, I see him being this year’s surprise package.

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huge Arsenal fan, love the team and all that comes with it.follower of all kinds of sports, football being my first love, yet to attend my first arsenal game but i am planning too, some time in the not to distant future. i enjoy writing as well, that's how i ended up here, never looked back....

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