Arsene Wenger is hopeful that Abou Diaby will become a holding midfielder…
Arsenal are planning to reinvent current midfielder Abou Diaby as a holding player, which could dent fans hopes of their team signing a new star come January.
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The Gunners have been linked with Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho, but have turned their attention to current members of their squad who could instead fill in as part of a short-term solution.
Arsene Wenger is aware that his team need to spend in January if they are to challenge for honours both domestically and in Europe, but his first priority will be reinforcing his injury-riddled defence.
As a result, the Daily Mirror believe that Wenger will turn to injury-plagued Diaby, who made his first team comeback in Arsenal’s Capital One Cup defeat to Southampton on Tuesday, after a nightmare 18 months on the sidelines.
The 28-year-old, who has only managed 179 appearances for the Gunners in nine years at the club, could have all the attributes to develop in the role according to his manager, who believes a deeper role in front of the back four will suit him.
Wenger said of the 6ft 3in France international: “I try to transform him because he was injured. He has the physical potential to win the challenges, to face the game will be easier for him than to play back to goal with the injuries he had.
“I try to develop him in a deeper role. I think he can do it, he can be very interesting, has all the attributes. He must want to love it as well because he’s more of an offensive-minded player.
“It was difficult for him against Southampton. But he got 60 minutes, he was not injured and at some stage he has to play. He was not bad, was acceptable as a performance, but he tired after an hour.”
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