Wenger excited at Diaby and Adebayor signings

ARSENE WENGER feels French U19 international Vasiriki Abou Diaby has the potential to fill Patrick Vieira’s midfield role at Arsenal - and is equally excited about capturing Monaco striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

While speculation continued over whether the Gunners would move for highly-rated Southampton teenager Theo Walcott - which looks increasingly likely - Wenger was delighted to have landed two players he feels can add an extra dimension to his squad.

Wenger sees in Diaby many of the same traits as former Arsenal captain Vieira possessed. “I like his potential, his physical power, the fact that he can win a fight in the middle of the park and the fact that he’s good going forward as well,” he said.

“He can be a complete midfielder. Of course he has to develop, but there is a real, real potential there.

“People compare him a little bit with Vieira because he has a similar stature. He is a little bit of a different player, but Patrick is a good role model for him; to model himself on.”

The fee is believed to be in the region of £2million, and Auxerre revealed Diaby rejected advances from Chelsea to sign a four-year deal with the Gunners.

Wenger will not include Diaby, 19, in the squad for today’s Premiership clash with Middlesborough at Highbury, but is sure the midfielder “will be ready with a few weeks’ training.”

Arsenal also completed the signing of Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor from Monaco last night.

Adebayor, 21, led his country to their first World Cup finals after top-scoring in the African zone.

Wenger said: “Emmanuel Adebayor is a great addition to our squad. He has shown in his performances with Monaco and Togo that he will add great quality to our offensive game. He is tall, good in the air and makes good runs. We are looking forward to him joining the squad when he returns from the African Nations Cup.”

Adebayor said: “This is a great day for me. I am joining Arsenal, one of Europe’s leading teams, with a squad containing so many great players.

“I am looking forward to working very hard for the team and I hope I can give the Arsenal fans a lot of enjoyment in the future.”

Wenger said he now has a squad to challenge Chelsea next season?: “We will be in a position to challenge next season, I am convinced. When you see the quality of the players we have, it’s at the top, top level.”

England full-back Ashley Cole will return to the squad for the first time since fracturing a bone in his foot during October.

Wenger said: “We’ve already re-negotiated with Ashley and I hope he’ll finish his career with Arsenal. At the start of the season we wanted to review his contract and if he’s ready to extend it more, we’ll be ready for that.”