Diaby Should Get A New Contract

9 years ago today Abou Diaby made his Arsenal debut as a substitute in a 1-0 defeat to Everton. A young, powerful and pentrative midfielder, physically reminiscent of Vieira, this French starlet looked to have a bright future. Sadly things did not turn out that way due to a sickening injury sustained in a match against Sunderland in May 2006. Diaby's contract runs out in the summer and there is talk of letting him go but I think we should keep hold of him for just a while longer.

It may seem insane to suggest we keep hold of a perpetually injured player who struggles to get through more than a handful of games before suffering some sort of set-back but we all know what he is capable of doing when he is fit. However, his playing ability is a secondary reason for calling to keep hold of him a while longer.

Yesterday Theo Walcott celebrated his 9th anniversary of joining Arsenal having signed for the Gunners around a week after the capture of Diaby. The message was clear, we were replacing Vieira and Henry (over time for the latter) with young players similar enough to perform resembling roles yet different enough to suit an evolving team.

At 25 and 28 respectively Theo and Abou are relatively young to be the club's longest serving players and just a year away from being eligible for a testimonial and it is for this reason that I feel we should offer Diaby an extension.

Diaby is already, if reports are correct, on a form of pay as you play deal and there would be little to no financial risk for Arsenal to offer him a 7 month PAYP deal in order for him to complete the necessary 10 years service to qualify for a testimonial.

Unless Diaby can magically prove himself long-term fit by the summer it is unlikely many clubs will want to take a risk on him and most likely all that will be on offer elsewhere, if anything, will be a pay as you play deal so why not get it at Arsenal and secure his financial future?

Premier League footballers obviously get paid quite well but it's easy to forget that it is a short career and players often have to fund themselves and their families for the next 50 years (they could get jobs of course but there will be limits to what they can do and earn). Diaby's career will most likely end up shorter than most and a testimonial could either perform the function of its original intention - to set up retiring players financially - or the more modern version of funding projects in the player's name.

I think it would be a wonderful and classy gesture from Arsenal Football Club to allow Diaby the chance of a testimonial and then there could be the added bonus of providing supporters the opportunity to see heroes past and present take to the pristine Emirates pitch at a bargain price.

We have nothing to lose from this suggestion and if Diaby should overcome his fitness issues during that time he would be a massive influence on the squad.

Don't forget to like us on Facebook, add us to your G+ circle and follow us on Twitter.