Home » Attack of the Clones: Abou Diaby to emulate Patrick Vieira

Attack of the Clones: Abou Diaby to emulate Patrick Vieira

Tagged with: Abou Diaby Arsenal Arsene Wenger Patrick Vieira

Abou Diaby is the heir apparent to Patrick Vieira at Arsenal, this after the Frenchman played a key role in the 3-1 win at Newcastle that strengthened the Gunners’ campaign for a top-four place in the Premier League.

Vieira etched his name into Arsenal folklore during nine trophy laden years under Wenger, before moving to Italy. Now the Arsenal boss is drawing parallels between former skipper Patrick Vieira and Abou Diaby.

Like Viera, Paris-born Diaby, was product of France’s famed Clairefontaine academy, however his efforts to make an impact at Arsenal were dealt a major blow when he suffered a broken ankle in May 2006 at Sunderland which kept him out of action for the rest of the year.

Although Diaby is not the only current Arsenal player that draws comparisions to those from previous teams under Wenger. Something familiar is happening at the Emirates. A certain ‘de ja vu’ prehaps.

There’s a distinct similarity between Wenger’s untouchables side that went the whole league season without loosing a league match and the current crop. From Robert Pires to Samir Nasri, Ashley Cole to Gael Clichy, Dennis Bergkamp to Robin van Persie and dare the coparison be made between Thierry Henry and Theo Walcott?

The way Diaby is prospering is one of the reasons why Wenger is optimistic about the future. But will he be part of another team that dominates English football once again?

Tagged with: Abou Diaby Arsenal Arsene Wenger Patrick Vieira

Comments on “Attack of the Clones: Abou Diaby to emulate Patrick Vieira”

DIDIER wrote on 28 March, 2009, 2:25

i THINK aRSHAVIN IS THE NEW BERGKAMP NOT VAN PERSIE. aLSO ADEBAYOR IS DEFINETLY THE KANU CLONE.

longtall wrote on 28 March, 2009, 2:43

The blogger is a shithead clone.

Moses wrote on 28 March, 2009, 2:45

I agree with you mate. Just like Adebayor, RVP isn´t worth any comparison to Bergkemp. Arshavin is truely the new Bergkemp.

Alex wrote on 28 March, 2009, 3:14

Robert Pires = Nasri, Gael Clichy definitely better than Cashley Cole. Theo Walcott = Thierry Henry except he needs to move on with his final finishing; and yes, Arshavin is more like a Bergy compares to RVP.

Moshe kumwenda wrote on 28 March, 2009, 5:38

I agree with you diaby-viera yes but he need to work hard on stamina

therealzc wrote on 28 March, 2009, 7:39

RVP doesnt add anything to the team. Over-rated.

romy wrote on 28 March, 2009, 8:16

amen.RVP is sickily over rated.arshavin is the real deal….and in a few years eduardo will be on a class of his own..better than anything we have seen at arsenal.

Arshavin's Special wrote on 28 March, 2009, 8:19

Arshavin is the Bergkamp and not RVP. Anyone who understands football can see that! But the other comparisons of Nasri = Pires, Diaby = Vieira is true only to a certain degree cos these players are showing only potential, not the finished article, it remains to be seen if they can ever grow to become these huge players eventually. RVP is slightly over-rated being injury-prone and poor goal rate (not a 20 goal-a-season striker). Adebayor, Arshavin and proabably Gallas are probably our only truly world-class players now primed for the biggest stage. Anyone noticed what a different player Walcott is now compared to a year ago? But no matter what, he is NO Thierry Henry and might never be no matter how much we wish him to be. The speed aside, he does not have the composure of finishing as Henry does. Remember, just because a player show promise, does not mean he will become the player that people compare them too.

Arshavin's Special wrote on 28 March, 2009, 8:20

More worryingly, with Petit, Pires, Henry, Campbell, Ashley Cole (no matter how we berate him) and Bergkamp, we never won the European Cup under Wenger's system. Wenger is painstakingly nurturing a new breed of players on the POTENTIAL they promise, but remember, that system had been able to win the European Cup and probably never will. See for yourself – the corner kicks are still poor, the over-elaborate play (frequently backwards) to try walk the ball into goal creeps back too easily, there is still no plan B (as Mourinho correctly pointed out 3 years ago). Arshavin's penchant for quick passing and release of the ball and refreshing more-direct approach has freshened things up and help us on the recent good run. If he is injured, watch the team slide back easily into the over-elaborate play with no attempts on goal to show for. Overall, the team's only game plan (No Plan B) is over-whelmingly dependent on the team being CONFIDENT. Yes it is all about CONFIDENCE. Unfortunately, as even Wenger knows, it is an attribute that slips away so easily. WIthout a rigid system that that players can fall back on, would you count on them to become European Champions?

Arshavin's Special wrote on 28 March, 2009, 8:20

Barcelona and Man Utd are teams breeming with World Class talented HUGE players. When they walk onto the Champions League Final Pitch, they KNOW they belong there, they know they are kind of players to lift the European Cup. This is why there are world class huge players and why there are those that show PROMISE. But remember, promise is not the real finished article – it might never be. Arshavin, Adebayor, Gallas. There is simply not enough world champions with us.

ptv wrote on 28 March, 2009, 8:32

You mean except leading both the score charts and the assists? No, no, I see your point. Our top scorer and top assist maker definately doesn't add anything.

Toks wrote on 28 March, 2009, 9:18

Thid Diaby-Viera thing really ticks me off. The guy cant even play. Apart from the goal, did the muppet who even wrote this article even watch the game. Diaby was actually the most dissapointing player on the pitch bar the goal- thats simply not good enough.
The CANNOT play with more than his right leg- which slows down the game immensely and always destroys a counter attack. I hope in all this Diaby rubbish, people (including Arsene) does not miss the development of a really prospective player- i.e. Alex Song. Anybody that has seen the recent games would know that this is who we should really be making a fuss about.

al the gooner wrote on 28 March, 2009, 9:32

loooooool @ comparisons between walcott and henry, walcott will never become half what henry was, i do rate diaby however, nowhere near the finished article, lets himself down positionally and defensively, but the best option we have alongside cesc, miles better than song, whose second touch is a tackle

Gbenga wrote on 28 March, 2009, 9:51

comparing Cashely Cole to Gael Clichy is a huge insult to Gael's intergrity

Gus the Gooner wrote on 28 March, 2009, 10:16

Agreed. Takes a long ball down effortlessly, drops the shoulder, steps over the ball, puts weight on other foot and changes ball to to side away from defender, goes past defender like he wasnt there, waits for keeper to fall down, and plants ball into opposite far corner. perfect sense of time and space.

AA = DB!!!

Griff wrote on 28 March, 2009, 10:35

How can people say Diaby can't play?! Did you see Fenerbace away this season? Of course he isn't there yet but a trait of being young is inconsistant form. The talent is there so given time and a bit of luck with injuries [which he hasn't had] he will be a great player. Not like Viera though because Viera was a midfileld battler and destroyer who rarely scored. Diaby is an attacker with quick feet who can drive forward and score great goals. Different but effective all the same.

chalmers wrote on 28 March, 2009, 11:47

Ajax won the European Cup with promising young palyers, read kluivert, davids, overmars, kanu, and lot others who did not prosper beyond Ajax or at Ajax after that win. get your facts right, potential and talent can actually win you trophies.

saf wrote on 28 March, 2009, 11:53

so whos got first team opportunity, diaby or denilson

TOLULOPE wrote on 28 March, 2009, 13:00

Very funny…Song has shown talent and ability…diaby usually proves too slow for Arsenal….denilson sometimes too quite in games..you forget he is on the pitch…i hope AW developes Song or preferably get yaya toure in the summer…GRADUALLY BECOMING A SONG FAN…..I m hoping RVP gets it right with Cesc back…He is great stuff.

Toks wrote on 28 March, 2009, 16:25

Hey Griff, apart from the Fenarbache game (which was a midfieldless game to be frank), I would like you to pick another game were diaby has had a good game. And he does not have quick 'feet', as he only uses one foot- Observe it and observe his contribution during a counter attack. What annoys me is that he scores the occasional goal and everybody sings his praises, but what does he actually do during the game?

fan4life wrote on 28 March, 2009, 16:57

sagna toure gallas clichy walcott cesc diaby rosicky ed arshavin subs nas ade rvp silvest vela itssss all good up the gunners

A is here: wrote on 28 March, 2009, 20:39

Calm down! FFS, only a few weeks ago you bloggers and most of Arsenal's "lightweight" fans were quick to stick the knife into the team and manager, now all of a sudden we are world beaters and invincible. Show loyalty to the team througout the season and stop kneejerking and overeacting.

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