Arsenal Must Not Sell Abou Diaby

The January transfer window brings different feelings to managers. For some it is like being a rich kid in a candy shop, for others it is a time where their best toys get given to bigger kids and for others it is like trying to buy the best toy with a tiny allowance.

For a club like Inter Milan it is almost like take your pick, hence a rich kid in a candy store. Jose Mourihno the current Inter manager is extremely keen to buy Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby who has been hailed by some as the next Patrick Viera.

Mourinho says the Frenchmen is just what Inter Milan needs to boost their midfield and will pay as much as he possibly can to bring the midfield dynamo to the Italian giants.

For a club like Arsenal the January transfer is a bit like the bigger kid taking their favourite toys and trying to buy the best toy but with a tiny allowance. Arsenal's season so far has been a huge disappointment. The main reasons are that Arsenal have failed to find consistency in their play, the other is their huge injury list.

Injuries are an unavoidable nuisance which play a huge part in football. Every season it seems Arsenal have the worst injury toll and it's no different this season with many senior players unavailable at the worst possible time. It is Arsenal's midfield that has been hit the hardest by the injury bomb with many key midfielders not fit to play.

Abou Diaby however is fully fit and leading the Arsenal midfield well. He is showing great leadership and great form, so it is no surprise that clubs like Inter are extremely interested in the Frenchman.

Diaby has great strength and pace and his passing ability is as good as, if not better than, the top players in the world. He has great balance and skill and a very powerful shot. If Diaby was to leave the Arsenal squad there is no denying that Arsenal would suffer a huge loss in form and leadership.

Arsenal must keep Diaby no matter what as the Arsenal midfield is too inexperienced and young to thrive without him. With Cesc Fabregas out for the remainder of the season Diaby is essential in the Arsenal midfield.

Unless Mourinho is prepared to offer 20-30 million pounds Arsenal must not sell Diaby.