Diaby Still Angry At Dan Smith

In the dying minutes of a game that Arsenal were cruising, Dan Smith of Sunderland went ‘over the top’ on Abou Diaby in a tackle finished with the player being out for a very long time with a broken ankle.

Well as Abou’s nightmare comes to an end, it’s clear Diaby is still quite angry with Smith, and with good cause.

Not only was the challenge reckless, dangerous and down right dirty, it put paid to a very young player having any chance of playing in his very first Champions League final.

Speaking as he prepares to return to action within a month, Diaby reveals his frustrations.

‘I was very angry against the player. I felt that he didn’t come to play the ball really.’ Said Abou

‘If he’d made a tackle to try to get the ball then my anger would have been a bit different. But he didn’t play the ball at all, he got my ankle, and he didn’t apologise afterwards.’

However the player is still hungry for football and is more than prepapred to fight for his place in the team.

‘I hope to be training in around about a month,’

‘I know at first I’ll have to train and play with the reserves but hopefully when I get my fitness back I hope to train again with the first team and I’ll be ready if the boss needs me.’

‘I’ll fight to get my place back. I’ll work really hard. I accept there’s competition on the pitch and I’ll just give my best to regain my place.’