‘Shame’…Theo Walcott uses one word to back Cesc Fabregas assessment of player Arsenal paid only £2m for

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Arsenal have had a number of players over the years who haven’t quite hit the heights many expected in a Gunners shirt.

Whether it be because of injury or simply not kicking on, the Gunners fans have had to sit back and see some serious talents not deliver.

Injuries scuppered the likes of Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere from ever getting to their potential. And another player who you can throw into that mix is midfielder, Abou Diaby.

Arsenal paid just £2m to sign Diaby back in 2009. And while there were glimpses of his brilliance at times, injuries eventually ensured he never quite got full lift.

Indeed, answering questions for Goal using just one word, former teammate of Diaby, Theo Walcott, described Diaby as being a ‘shame’ when his name was thrown out.

Walcott view on Diaby is the same as Cesc Fabregas

Diaby is definitely one of those players who seems to get forgotten about. But not by his former teammates it seems.

Walcott’s one-word answer here does sum things up nicely and it goes in line with what Cesc Fabregas said about Diaby last month.

Elaborating more on Diaby for the Planet Premier League podcast, Fabregas spoke at length about the talent Diaby had.

“What was said about Jack Wilshere, his eagerness and keenness to take people on and invite tackles brought on those injuries. I agree and the same can be said of Abou Diaby. A superb talent, what a player, he was the next Patrick Vieira, but he carried the ball a lot, and I’m not saying it’s his fault, because we all have our strengths. I couldn’t do what Jack did, if I was more explosive or faster I would’ve been a different player, but we all need to play to our strengths,” Fabregas said.

Arsenal, then, appear to have missed out on seeing a major talent in Abou Diaby.

Indeed, the player himself must be gutted at how things turned out. Diaby is very much a case of what if.