Lassana Diarra has wonderful technique and balance. His height and build makes him very difficult to knock off the ball. Many times against the Newcastle midfield Diarra would have the ball at his feet under pressure and dummy his man one way and twist away from the opposition.

The transfer window was on the verge of slamming shut and I was flicking around on the Internet not really expecting any sort of signing. I clicked onto the BBC website just to see who bought who and I noticed that Lassana Diarra’s name was at the top of the feed. I had to double take when I saw Chelsea to Arsenal.

Not quite sure why we need another central midfield player who can play right back because we have loads of players who can play in both positions. Where is the winger that we need? Were pretty much my thoughts in the space of 30 seconds or so.

It didn’t take me long to realise the point in signing Diarra. Denilson, Diaby, Cesc and even Flamini to a certain extent were not holding players. Gilberto and Song were players who sat infront of the defence and protected them. The rest liked to use the ball and play in the opposition part of the pitch.

Lassana Diarra’s path into football was not easy as he suffered rejection from many french clubs because of his size and weight. Nantes did not want to take him on because he was too small and lightweight.

Diarra didn’t make a name for himself until he was at Le Havre. He joined in 2003 and played in the holding position and really made people take notice. He was picked for the French under 21’s and started to get the nickname ‘the new Makelele’ Chelsea saw the opportunity to pounce and did. They paid around £1 Million for him in the summer of 2005

Diarra was being overlooked at Chelsea in his favourite holding midfield position. The likes of Makelele, Essien, Lampard, Mikel were all ahead of him.
He did manage some impressive right back displays at the end of last season but was replaced by Paulo Ferreira in the FA Cup final and the matches leading to it.

Diarra must have looked across London and saw what Arsene Wenger was building. Young players get a chance to play. Arsenal play attacking ,entertaining and free football. Arsene Wenger is a manager who can get the best out of Lassana Diarra.

Arsenal paid around £2 Million for him, which is an absolute bargain. Arsene has done it yet again.

Diarra made his debut coming on for Van Persie in the 88th minute against Seville and obviously didn’t have much time to make any type of impact.
Diarra had just under 20 minutes against Derby County.

It wasn’t until Diarra made his full debut against Newcastle in the Carling cup that Arsenal supporters got to see what Lassana Diarra is really about.

I assumed Diarra was just another defensive midfield player who is strong in the tackle and hard working. I was wrong.

Lassana Diarra has wonderful technique and balance. His height and build makes him very difficult to knock off the ball. Many times against the Newcastle midfield Diarra would have the ball at his feet under pressure and dummy his man one way and twist away from the opposition.

Diarra is also a fine passer of the ball. Very much in the way that Cesc can see what is around him, it seems that Diarra has that same ability.

Diarra is Arsene’s defensive Cesc.

Cesc has to drop deeper to receive the ball from Gilberto as Gilberto’s distribution is not great. But this will not be the case with Diarra.

Diarra will be on the ball alot as he always shows for it, always jogging to the ball to make himself available.

Cesc and Diarra will make an already great possession team even better. There will not be a midfield in Europe that can pass the ball better than Hleb, Diarra Cesc and Rosicky.

This midfield really has the capability to be the very best in the world if they can continue to play together. If Rosicky can get over his routine of playing for 5 matches and getting injured for 5 etc

The Cesc Fabregas, Lassana Diarra show will have to be on hold for a while yet though. A certain Mathieu Flamini has made it practically impossible to be left out. He has been outstanding in every match so far. Flamini is a completely different player to Diarra. I’ve said it before and I will say it again. Flamini is no holding player. He is an action player, a box to box battler who probably has the most bottle in the squad. He will throw his body infront of shots, jump into a diving header to clear the ball amongst strikers feet. He is a player we need right now.

But it is ok, he will get his chance. Diarra won’t be rejected this time.