Frenchman Abou Diaby has expressed delight at having the backing of the Arsenal boss and is keen to impress this season.
The 26 year old missed the majority of last season due to persistent injury problems and could only manage five appearances for the Gunners. However, the midfielder is now fit again and put in a solid performance against Malayasia AP during the pre season tour. Wenger hailed the tall, lanky Frenchman as an ‘exceptional’ talent after the win and subsequently instilled a lot of belief in the midfielder.
The player admits that this is crucial time as he tries to recover completely and reach maximum fitness ahead of the season. He also managed to put in assured performance against Premier League champions Manchester City when the two sides faced each other on Friday night.
Talking of Wenger’s support, Diaby spoke: “That makes me feel confident. It is always nice to have the confidence of the manager.
“I’m fit now. I have been training since the beginning of pre-season and also did a rehabilitation session during my holidays, so now I feel great.”
He added: “It is definitely important. I need to be fit to complete the season, so this is a crucial time.”