Former Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby undergoes ankle surgery in London

Former Arsenal superstar Abou Diaby [PHOTO: COURTESY]

Former Arsenal superstar Abou Diaby has had a career full of injuries which have cost the Frenchman a chance to fulfil his potential as the next Patrick Vieira.

Diaby who signed for Arsenal in January 2006 from french club Auxerre at the same time Emmanuel Adebayor signed for the club from AS Monaco.

But the Frenchman’s career did not go as planned and instead of replacing Vieira he spent most of his time in hospital recovering from injuries.

His body did not recover from a reckless challenge by Sunderland's Dan Smith when the game was all over as Arsenal won 3-0.

The injury sustained was a broken ankle and ruptured ligaments and in the process of recovering from such an injury Diaby's body took the brunt.

The serious injuries persisted to halt the 30 year old’s progress as his body simply could’nt cope with the demands of top level sporting.

Diaby moved to Marseille on a free transfer last season as his Arsenal career was over.

The surgery Diaby will have is again on his ankle but it may now be time to call it a day for a player that seemed to be one of the best talents around.