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Abou Diaby was on the verge of quitting football last season but is now back - and on a mission to save his career.

Arsenal’s French midfielder was battling against the latest of his horror run of injuries – knee ligament damage - and wondered if it was time to give up.

Diaby has been ruled out of action THIRTY SEVEN times by various knocks since he signed for the Gunners from Auxerre in 2006.

And he has played under 1,000 minutes of Premier League football in the past three seasons combined.

But he returned to action on his 28th birthday with a 16-minute substitute appearance at the end of last season and now has new targets.

Asked if he had considered packing it in, Diaby said: “Yeah. Sometimes it crossed my mind, but my love of football is so big that I just couldn’t quit.

“I am still young and now that I have an opportunity to play again I want to take it. I try to be positive all the time and that has helped me to come back.

“It's great to be playing again and it’s a good feeling. I am just happy to be back and playing. Now I just hope I can keep like this and continue playing.

“My knee is feeling good, I have been working hard on my fitness and strength.”

Diaby has featured in both of Arsenal’s pre-season matches so far, playing all of the second half in the weekend defeat by New York Red Bulls, and is with the squad for a training camp in Austria this week.

He also has the added pressure of playing for a new deal as his contract expires at the end of this season.

The 16-cap France international added: “It’s been hard, I have been doing so much work to make sure I am ready. That has taken up most of my summer but it has been good because now I am in a position where I can play games.

“I have done the same kind of rehab as before, but this time I have been working to make sure my fitness levels were where they should be for when I come back to play matches at the start of pre-season.”

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Even he grins when it is suggested again that he will be like a new signing.

He said: “Yeah, I guess so, but they have said that many times before.

“Now it’s just important for me to be back and able to play. I am really confident and optimistic that I will be able to stay injury free. I have worked hard for over a year now.”

Diaby just lost his race against time to play in May’s FA Cup Final win over Hull, which ended the Gunners' nine-year trophy drought.

He added: “Of course last season was difficult. It was great to see the lads win the FA Cup but as a player you want to be part of it - on the pitch sharing the victory.

"It’s okay, though, because I am happy for them and I was supporting them.”