Abou Diaby set for Arsenal first team return after 45 minutes against Chelsea U21s

Arsene Wenger is set to hand Abou Diaby a return to first-team action after the midfielder played his first game for 402 days yesterday.

Diaby, 27, who has been sidelined since suffering knee ligament damage against Swansea in March last year, played 45 minutes in the Under-21’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.

“He is back in full training now and available to play,” said boss Wenger. “Physically he is ready. It is now about getting used to challenges again. Everybody [counted him out] but he is fit.”