Diarra deserves to start in Prague
18 comments November 6th, 2007
With Qualification for the knockout stage of the Champions League just one win away, and bodies tiring as the fixture list begins to take its toll, Arsene Wenger has hinted he may begin to rotate his squad. If anyone deserves to be a beneficiary of that, it’s new signing Lassana Diarra.
“What about Gilberto?”, I hear you cry. Well, for all the Brazilian’s undoubted quality, the performances he has made haven’t demanded the observer’s attention in the same way as Diarra. Although the diminutive midfielder has made only two starts for the club, both in the Carling Cup, he’s arguably emerged as the Man of the Match in both encounters. Even more impressively, he played the two games in different positions: holding midfield and right-back.
22 already, Diarra won’t wait forever for first team opportunities – indeed, he left Chelsea for those very reasons. If we’re to keep such a talented member of our squad happy, it’s vital we give him opportunities where possible in games like tomorrow. I’m sure either Mathieu Flamini, Cesc Fabregas, or Bacary Sagna wouldn’t mind a rest.
One player who could suffer from Diarra’s rise to prominence is Justin Hoyte, who has been linked with a move to Everton. I’m a big fan of Hoyte, although he does suffer somewhat from the Phil Neville problem of being Jack of All Trades and Master of None. Will he follow the Neviller’s path to Merseyside? We’ll find out in January, I suppose.
Have a good day.
