Arsène Wenger has said Abou Diaby will be offered a new contract at Arsenal if the 28-year-old can prove his fitness but admits the France international needs to have full mobility in his ankle having suffered from what the manager said was an assassin’s tackle against Sunderland in 2006.

Diaby has made only one appearance this season, in the Capital One Cup defeat to Southampton, but is believed to be nearing closer to full fitness.

The midfielder’s contract ends this season but Wenger told BeIn Sport: “Diaby hasn’t a mental problem but a problem of injury. He is a player for whom I have great respect. Whenever he returns, he is injured and he goes from zero. He was destroyed by a bad tackle.

“The football player needs mobility of his ankle. When your ankle mobility is restricted, you compensate with something else. He suffered from a very bad tackle in Sunderland six or seven years ago. He was the victim of an assassin’s tackle that was never punished. It has restricted the mobility of his ankle.

“If he comes back, I will keep him. I always believed in him. In football, the most important thing is health.”

Diaby has made only 22 appearances in four seasons.