Diaby eyes return and reveals World Cup dream

Injury-plagued Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby hopes he could be back in action before the end of the season — and has not give up on playing for France at the World Cup.

The 27-year-old suffered knee ligament damage in March 2013, and has not featured for the Gunners since.

However, Diaby — whose Arsenal career has seen a succession of setbacks starting from a fractured ankle in May 2006 — feels he is closing in on a long-awaited comeback.

“I will take stock with Arsenal medical staff early in April, but I hope to resume collective training sessions very soon,” Diaby said.

“My priorities? Feeling fine and playing again before the end of the season.

“I don’t think I will be scared to play. I trust my body.

“I am still a high level footballer in my mind, otherwise I would have given up, but I never think to give it up.

“Some people experience much more difficult things in their lives. I know my reward will be to have fun playing again.”

Diaby feels if he can produce a strong end to the domestic season with Arsenal, who are back in the race for the Premier League title after beating Tottenham and into the semi-finals of the FA Cup, then that could lead to a recall for the French national team.

“The French team? I have never abandoned the idea to go to the World Cup,” he said.

“I have always kept that in a corner of my mind to go on working. As soon as I will be back on the pitch, everything is possible.”

Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsey is in no doubt his best form is yet to come after agreeing a new contract extension at Arsenal.

The Wales international is currently recovering from a thigh injury and hopes to soon be back in action.

The 23-year-old scored 13 goals this season before his latest fitness setback and following the announcement he had joined Santi Cazorla and promising teenager Gedion Zelalem in penning a new deal, Ramsey was relishing the challenges ahead under manager Arsene Wenger.

“I feel like there’s plenty more to come. This season I’ve proven a lot of people wrong,” Ramsey said.

“Hopefully now I can get back out onto that pitch as quickly as possible and show what I’m capable of doing and hopefully finish off the season in some style as well.”

Cazorla, meanwhile, feels the Gunners are well placed to achieve success in the years ahead.

He said: “I think that we can be a big player in competing for the top trophies in years to come and that’s important for me.

“I have already had lots of good moments here and hopefully there will be many more to come.”