Abou Diaby Hands Arsenal Major Injury Boost

Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby has given reason for the club to call off their pursuit of Real Madrid's Sami Khedira after declaring his intent to complete a full pre-season to continue his return from injury.

Diaby played just once in the Premier League last season following a knee problem and regular injuries have made him a forgotten man in north London.

But the 28 year old is unwilling to give up on his Arsenal career and after playing 45 minutes in the friendly against Boreham Wood, Diaby is ready to give manager Arsene Wenger a major boost by getting fit before the start of the campaign.

"I think it [the game against Boreham Wood] was good occasion for us to get prepared," he told Arsenal Player.

"It was a good game against a good team, it was a lovely day as well so we are happy. It was very hot but it was hot for everybody - we just tried to play our game.

"I haven't done that [play 45 minutes] for one year so I was really happy to be back in a normal game. I hope it's going to stay like this.

"Pre-season has been really good so far, we still have three weeks and I hope to complete 90 per cent of it and that will be a successful one for me."

Arsenal now travel to the United States for the friendly against Thierry Henry's New York Red Bulls, while their pursuit of Khedira – who is reportedly surplus to requirements at Real – continues.

Wenger continues to play down his activity in the transfer market and insists that should Diaby return to the Arsenal first team this season, he could become a major "asset" in the 2014/15 season.

"If you get a fit Diaby back, it will be a major asset for our team," he explained. "At the moment we go step by step and he came through this game so that's very good news for us.

"You wish that he just gets through the game, which happened here - I'm very pleased with that."