Abou Diaby says he seriously considered quitting football while sidelined by knee ligament damage but now wants to get his career back on track after over a year out of the game.

The French international was included on the bench for the win over West Bromwich Albion yesterday, his first matchday experience since mid-March 2013, and admits that dreams of playing in the World Cup and his religious beliefs have helped him though another difficult period in his career.

“You ask yourself whether you’re going to still be a footballer,” he told L’Equipe (translation by ESPN.co.uk) of the setbacks endured while trying to overcome his ACL injury.

“You think of giving up everything. I said to myself: ‘I’m sick of this! I’m quitting!’ I spoke about it with my parents, my brothers, my sisters, my friends…Then, I got up one morning: ‘No, out of the question!'”

“I had to start from scratch. But given where I’d been, it didn’t really matter. It’s been tough because I’ve had a lot of injuries. I’m religious, and in my belief, despair doesn’t exist. You must never give in. Also, I’m only 27, soon 28. I still have five or six years ahead of me, perhaps more.

“If my black season could end with a cup final victory, that would be marvellous,” said Diaby, who has all but given up hope of adding to his 16 international caps at this summer’s World Cup.

“There are two games left, you have to be realistic. But if I could be the 23rd man on the plane for Brazil… I dream of that.”

Abou has one final year left on his contract at the Emirates and while he’s not the missing piece of the midfield puzzle, the chance to complete a full pre-season coupled with players being rested after World Cup duty means he could well be competing for a first team berth come August.