Arsenal are exploring ways of offering Abou Diaby a new pay as you play deal to stay at the Emirates beyond this season, reports the Daily Express.
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The midfielder has only appeared once this season for the Gunners, in the Capital One Cup back in August. He has also averaged 14 games a season since arriving in 2006 because of repeated fitness problems. The news that manager Arsene Wenger is considering a new contract for the 28-year-old will bring exasperated gasps from many fans as a result.
According to the Express the 65-year-old is keen to use the France international as a stopgap while Krystian Bielik matures into the defensive midfielder that the North London club really need. Since the departure of Patrick Vieira the team have looked short in the area, but it seems their manager still believes that a new signing is unnecessary.
The emergence of Francis Coquelin may be what has prompted this move. The 23-year-old has been performing well at the base of the midfield in recent weeks, but still looks in need of a partner for the matches where the Gunners need to defend more often.