Thanks for the comment. The yahoo article is a good one, and I think you’ll find that much of the statistical evidence used in it is also used here, to similar ends. Diaby HAS improved since September; the article here is simply working through some of the contradictions of his career and his style, a style which, as you point out, doesn’t always get noticed by supporters.

Everyone here supports the team. We’re all with you, Paul.

The whole article above is trying to figure out just why Diaby comes in for more criticism than others.

When you say “Diaby has his share of blunders…mainly attributable to the loss of confidence,” I agree with you completely. This is at the “crux” of my “crucifixion”, if one wanted to call this article that. And I agree that we need to wait until May to see where Diaby has got to, and what the future really holds.

I agree with both observations on Diaby for recent seasons, but developing as a player is a transitional process. Most fans are impatient for Arsenal to return to the competitive teams earlier in this decade.

Do we get out the wallet and build the team like Chelski or City? That is not Arsene’s style AND its not being a reality for traditional managers.

If we listened to the fickleness of fans, we would have sold Gallas, Clichy, Almunia, Diaby, Song, Denilson, Bendtner, Eboue, Fabianski to name some.

Another tendency by fans is to define a player by early performances and not carefully reassess from match to match – season to season.

As a youngster, did you measure your height every month?

There are two types of Arsenal players, ones that Arsene buys: Arshavin, Rosicky, Sagna, Nasri, RvP, Vermaelen, Gallas, and Eduardo – who for the most part are a finished product.

Then there are the young players who have talent but just need time to grow their confidence.

There is much talent on this Arsenal squad. We should not be focused on Diaby – that’s Arsene’s job.