Wenger's joy at Diaby impact

Arsene Wenger has hailed the return of Abou Diaby after the midfielder's man-of-the-match display in Arsenal's 2-0 win at Liverpool.

The French midfielder didn't start a single game for the Gunners last season after a year blighted by injury concerns, but his fitness problems now appear to be well and truly behind him. Diaby, who made just four substitute appearances in the previous campaign, stole the show at Anfield as the Gunners claimed their first Premier League win at the third attempt after two goal-less draws against Sunderland and Stoke. Asked about Diaby's impact the manager said: "You can see that it's massive for us because he's a tremendous football player with absolutely everything you want in a midfield player. "He hadn't played a game for a year but he had a good pre-season where we just gave him 45 minutes every three days. "Now he looks physically in good shape. "There is more to come from him but what he has shown today is already very good." Diaby's performances thus far have come at the perfect time after Arsenal saw the influential Alex Song leave for Barcelona last month, but Wenger confessed that there was a time that he feared the worst for him. He added: "I was highly worried about him. I always stood behind him because not only is he a fantastic footballer but a fantastic guy as well."