• Premier League

Wenger eases Diaby fitness fears

ESPN staff
September 12, 2012
Abou Diaby scored France's winner against Finland © Getty Images
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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has calmed any fears over the injury Abou Diaby picked up on international duty, claiming he could even be fit for the Gunners' game against Southampton on Saturday.

Diaby, who has struggled with injuries throughout his time at Arsenal, hurt his hip during France's 1-0 win over Finland on Friday.

The injury forced the midfielder to miss les Bleus' 3-1 victory over Belarus on Tuesday and French reports have suggested he will miss the Southampton game.

However, Wenger has said the injury is only minor and the France international, who has been in impressive form this season, could be back for the weekend.

"He has slight pain on the hip, on the sartorius muscle," Wenger told TF1. "It doesn't seem serious at all to me. He even has a small chance to play on Saturday."

Diaby has started all three Arsenal games this season compared with just the five substitute appearances he made the whole of the previous campaign.

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