The Evening Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Arsene Wenger has revealed Arsenal tried to sign Paul Pogba before the France international left Manchester United for Juventus.
Pogba turned down a new deal at United to join the Serie A giants in 2012 and has barely looked back since, establishing himself as a prominent regular for club and country.
A consistent criticism of Wenger is his failure to add a powerful defensive midfielder to his squad this summer but the Gunners boss has always claimed the club have been keen to strengthen in this area and claimed a longstanding interest in Pogba.
“We were interested by Pogba when he was at Manchester,” said Wenger. “We tried to get him, but it was complicated. I was surprised to see Manchester let him go. We did not have the right to contact him.”
Abou Diaby has been mooted in some quarters as a possible solution in adding a physical presence to Arsenal’s midfield should the Frenchman ever put his injury nightmare behind him.
The 28-year-old has made just 22 appearances in the last four seasons after a series of problems that ultimately date back to 2006. Diaby, then 19, broke and dislocated his right ankle following an appalling challenge by Sunderland defender in the final minute of Arsenal’s 3-0 win at the Stadium of Light eight years ago.
Smith was only booked for the tackle, after which both Kolo Toure and Wenger appeared to suggest the incident was not an accident. Wenger stands by that assessment in the same way he has maintained unswerving faith in Diaby, even to the extent that he hinted the midfielder could be offered a new contract should he prove his fitness.
Diaby’s current deal expires at the end of this season and he has so far made just one senior appearance - in Arsenal’s Capital One Cup third round defeat to Southampton in September.
But Wenger told beINsport: “Diaby hasn’t a mental problem, but a problem of injury. He is a player for whom I have great respect. Whenever he returns, he is injured and he goes from zero. He was destroyed by a bad tackle.
Read More
“The football player needs mobility of his ankle. When your ankle mobility is restricted, you compensate with something else. He suffered from a very bad tackle in Sunderland six or seven years ago. He was the victim of an assassin’s tackle that was never punished. It has restricted the mobility of his ankle.
“If he comes back, I will keep him. I always believed in him. In football, the most important thing is health.”
